German state prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian diving instructor, identified as Volodymyr Z, as they investigate the mysterious explosion that occurred at the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea in 2022. The sensational true crime drama surrounding the incident has captivated German media, with reports suggesting that Volodymyr Z was part of a team of experienced Ukrainian divers involved in planting explosives that ultimately led to the destruction of three out of four Nord Stream pipelines.

Ines Peterson, spokeswoman for Germany's prosecutor general, declined to confirm the arrest warrant, citing concerns that commenting on the investigation could potentially alert the suspect and jeopardize the ongoing investigation. However, Polish prosecutor general's spokeswoman, Anna Adamiak, confirmed that a European Arrest Warrant had indeed been passed to Polish authorities.

According to information shared with the BBC, when Polish officers visited Volodymyr Z's home in early July, he had already left the country for Ukraine. Prior to his departure, he had been residing in a quiet residential area of Pruszków, near Warsaw, German media sources reveal.

Investigative reports by three German media outlets, including public broadcaster ARD, allege that Volodymyr Z and his team of Ukrainian divers hired a German yacht, sailed into the Baltic Sea, and successfully planted explosives that resulted in the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines. Two additional individuals, one Ukrainian man and one Ukrainian woman, are also suspected of involvement in the incident.

While media reports suggest that Ukrainian divers were responsible for the explosion, it remains unclear who ordered or orchestrated the attack. No evidence has emerged linking the incident to any specific government, including Ukraine, Russia, or any other country or individual group.

Conspiracy theories surrounding the attack have circulated since its occurrence, with unverified rumors suggesting involvement from governments in Kyiv, Moscow, or Washington. Additionally, speculation has arisen about possible involvement from Ukrainian or Russian military groups acting independently, without government authorization.

The Nord Stream pipelines, which transported gas from Russia to Germany, were controversial and seen as symbols of European energy dependence on Moscow. Eastern European nations had long warned Germany about the vulnerabilities associated with this dependence on Russian gas. Despite these warnings, successive German governments, from Gerhard Schröder's left-wing coalition to Angela Merkel's conservative-led administrations, believed that energy and trade links with Russia would foster economic growth and promote peace between the two nations.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shattered these hopes, leading mainstream politicians across Germany's political spectrum to acknowledge their previous misjudgments regarding energy dependence on Moscow.

As Russian forces continue their slow advancement in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine's military is taking strategic actions, including launching surprise cross-border attacks and capturing Russian soldiers. The situation presents Ukraine with crucial decisions regarding whether to maintain their forces within Russia's borders to maximize pressure on Moscow or withdraw now.

Ukrainian troops who recently entered Russia's Kursk region claim they successfully caught Russian forces off guard, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict.