--- title: "Germany expands charges in the 'Nord Stream' case: extradition hearing for a Ukrainian in Croatia postponed" description: "The German prosecution has updated the European arrest warrant for Ukrainian Vladimir Zhuravlev in the 'Nord Stream' case, adding the 'war crime' qualification. Due to the change in documents, the hearing on his extradition in Croatia, scheduled for September 4, has been postponed." date: 2026-09-04T15:46:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/germany-nord-stream-zhuravlev-extradition-croatia-en tags: [nord-stream, extradition, germany, croatia, ukraine, war-crimes] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Germany expands charges in the 'Nord Stream' case: extradition hearing for a Ukrainian in Croatia postponed ![Suspect in Nord Stream sabotage in handcuffs during a hearing in Croatia](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/04/germany-nord-stream-zhuravlev-extradition-croatia/germany-nord-stream-zhuravlev-extradition-croatia-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The hearing on the extradition of a Ukrainian in Croatia, scheduled for September 4, was postponed due to the German side updating the arrest warrant. - The German prosecution expanded the charges, adding the 'war crime' qualification. - The case involves Vladimir Zhuravlev ('Vladimir Z.'), for whom Germany issued an arrest warrant in June 2024. - According to RBC-Ukraine, the suspect's detention took place on the set of a Hollywood film about underwater divers. In Croatia, a court hearing on the extradition of a Ukrainian citizen to Germany in the case of the sabotage of the 'Nord Stream' pipelines has been postponed. The hearing, which was scheduled for Friday, September 4, was delayed due to a change in procedural documents by the German side. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from the law firm 'Katerinchuk, Moor and Partners,' which represents the defense. ### Warrant update and hearing postponement According to the publication, the German prosecution has updated the European arrest warrant. It was precisely this change in documents that led to the cancellation of the Croatian court session scheduled for September 4. The defense notes that the warrant update effectively opens a new procedural stage, which will have to be worked through again, and emphasizes that work to protect the rights of the Ukrainian citizen is ongoing. ### New qualification: 'war crime' The key change in the updated warrant, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, was the expansion of the charges: the German side added a new qualification — 'war crime.' This substantially changes the nature of the case and the potential consequences for the suspect, as well as complicates the defense's procedural work, which now has to challenge a broader list of claims. ### Case context: detention on a film set It is worth recalling that Germany issued the arrest warrant back in June 2024. According to German law enforcement, Vladimir Zhuravlev, referred to in the prosecution's documents as 'Vladimir Z.,' may be linked to a Ukrainian sabotage group that allegedly planted explosives on the 'Nord Stream' pipelines. Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported that the suspect was detained in Croatia right on the set of a Hollywood film about underwater divers. ### Contradictory data The sources contain a discrepancy in the identification of the detained individuals. RBC-Ukraine states that a second Ukrainian citizen has been detained in Croatia, who is linked to the 'Nord Stream' case, but his surname is not disclosed. At the same time, the publication only tentatively — 'presumably' — identifies this person with Vladimir Zhuravlev. Thus, the direct link between the 'second detainee' and Zhuravlev is not unambiguously confirmed in the original source, but is based on the editorial assumption. In addition, the text mentions two different time points: June 2024 (issuance of the warrant) and September 4 (the planned but postponed hearing), which is important to consider when assessing the chronology. ### Defense's position In its statement, the law firm 'Katerinchuk, Moor and Partners' called the warrant update a 'new stage in the fight for the rights of the Ukrainian citizen' and declared that it would continue its work. The defense, therefore, acknowledges the fact of the document change and is preparing a legal response to the expanded qualification of the charges, including the addition of the 'war crime' item. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [A new twist in the 'Nord Stream' case: what charge was brought against the Ukrainian](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/noviy-povorot-spravi-pivnichnih-potokiv-ke-1788535896.html) - Подтверждены: перенос слушания от 4 сентября, обновление ордера, добавление квалификации «военное преступление», позиция защиты, ордер от июня 2024, задержание на съемочной площадке. Оговорка: связь «второго задержанного» с Журавлевым дана предположительно («вероятно»), фамилия второго не разглашена. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why was the extradition hearing in Croatia postponed? **A:** The hearing, scheduled for Friday, September 4, was delayed because the German prosecution updated the European arrest warrant and expanded the charges, including adding the 'war crime' qualification. ### Q: Who is involved in the 'Nord Stream' case? **A:** The German prosecution's documents name Ukrainian citizen Vladimir Zhuravlev, identified as 'Vladimir Z.' Germany issued an arrest warrant for him in June 2024. ### Q: Is it confirmed that the second person detained in Croatia is Zhuravlev? **A:** No, this is not unambiguously confirmed. RBC-Ukraine states that a second Ukrainian citizen linked to the case has been detained in Croatia, but his surname is not disclosed, and the identification with Zhuravlev is given only tentatively ('presumably').