Germany Puts Ukrainian Man on Trial Over Nord Stream Pipeline Attack
Listen to the story
Germany has begun the trial of a Ukrainian man named Serhii K. He is accused of helping to blow up the Nord Stream gas pipelines four years ago.
The pipelines once carried natural gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. In 2022, powerful explosions destroyed parts of them.
Since then, no gas has flowed through Nord Stream. The pipelines remain badly damaged.
Prosecutors say Serhii K was involved in a plot to blow up the pipelines. They believe he took part in planning the attack.
This trial is one of the first major legal cases linked to the pipeline attacks. Investigators in several countries have spent years trying to find out who was responsible.
Germany, Russia and Ukraine have all been affected by the loss of the pipelines. Before the attack, Nord Stream was an important source of energy for Germany.
The attack happened during the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which made the case especially sensitive politically.
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of carrying out the attack, but no clear public evidence has settled the question until now.
German prosecutors will present their evidence during the trial. The court will decide whether Serhii K is guilty of taking part in the plot.
The case is expected to attract international attention, since the Nord Stream explosions affected energy supplies across Europe.
More details are likely to come out as the trial continues in the coming weeks.
Vocabulary10 words
- trial
- a legal process to decide if someone broke the law
- explosions
- sudden powerful bursts that destroy things
- damaged
- broken or harmed
- plot
- a secret plan to do something harmful
- prosecutors
- lawyers who argue someone is guilty in court
- court
- a place where legal cases are decided
- pipelines
- long pipes used to move gas or oil
- investigators
- people who try to find out what happened
- sensitive
- needing careful handling because it is difficult
- evidence
- facts or proof used to support a claim
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. A Ukrainian man named Serhii K 2. They were destroyed by explosions 3. False
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Germany has begun the _____ of a Ukrainian man named Serhii K.
He is accused of helping to blow up the Nord Stream gas _____.
The pipelines once carried natural gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic _____.
In 2022, powerful _____ destroyed parts of them.
Since then, no gas has flowed through _____.
Prosecutors say Serhii K was involved in a _____ to blow up the pipelines.
This trial is one of the first major legal _____ linked to the pipeline attacks.
Investigators in several countries have spent years trying to find out who was _____.
German _____ will present their evidence during the trial.
The case is expected to attract international _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think this trial is important for international relations?
- What effects might the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines have had on Europe?
- Why might countries disagree about who was responsible for the attack?
- How important is energy security to a country, in your opinion?
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
More Politics stories
Next story · Medium
Nino Niederreiter Returns to Jets Lineup, Close to 500 Career Points