Nord Stream Suspect Arrested in Croatia While Working on Hollywood Film About Pipeline Attack

A Ukrainian diver wanted by German authorities over the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions has been arrested in Croatia — in an extraordinary twist, while reportedly working as a consultant on a Hollywood film about the very sabotage he is accused of helping carry out. Volodymyr Zhuravlev was detained in Pula on a European arrest warrant and now faces extradition proceedings to Germany.

German prosecutors allege that Zhuravlev was part of a team of trained divers involved in placing explosives on the Nord Stream pipelines beneath the Baltic Sea in September 2022. The explosions severely damaged Nord Stream 1 and disabled Nord Stream 2, which were designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany. Zhuravlev denies involvement in the attack.

His arrest has attracted particular attention because of his reported connection to Snake Island, an upcoming Hollywood film directed by Doug Liman and starring actors including Sean Penn and Adrien Brody. German and international media reported that Zhuravlev had been working as a diving consultant on the production, which is based on the Nord Stream sabotage.

The arrest is the latest development in Germany’s long-running investigation into who was behind the pipeline explosions. Another Ukrainian suspect, identified as Serhii K., was arrested in Italy in 2025 and extradited to Germany. German prosecutors allege that he played a leading role in the operation and that the group had links to Ukrainian state entities.

The Nord Stream explosions have remained one of the most controversial acts of infrastructure sabotage in Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The pipelines were an important part of Europe’s energy relationship with Russia, and their destruction further complicated an already tense energy and geopolitical situation.

Zhuravlev had previously avoided extradition after being detained in Poland. A Polish court refused Germany’s extradition request, and he subsequently left the country. His arrest in Croatia now gives German authorities another opportunity to bring the suspect before a German court.

A Croatian court has ordered his detention while the extradition process is considered. His lawyers are expected to challenge the move, meaning his legal battle could continue before he is transferred to Germany.