A Ukrainian man accused of involvement in the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage is in custody in Croatia as authorities consider his extradition to Germany.

A Ukrainian national suspected of participating in the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines has been detained in Croatia following a European arrest warrant issued by Germany. The suspect is alleged to have been one of the divers responsible for attaching explosives to the pipelines in the Baltic Sea. He is currently in investigative custody after a court in Pula ruled that his detention is necessary due to flight risk concerns.

The man, identified as Volodymyr S., had been providing consulting services to a Hollywood film production dramatizing the Nord Stream incidents as a political thriller. He was apprehended at a resort in Pula, the same location where the U.S. production team, including director Doug Liman and actors Sean Penn and Adrien Brody, were staying. Reports indicate that S. was registered under his real name and had previously served as an instructor at a deep-water diving school in Kyiv, as well as a soldier in the Ukrainian army.

His lawyer, Matija Milos, stated that S. plans to challenge the extradition order through legal avenues, citing a prior case in Poland where courts denied Germany’s request and released him. However, Croatian authorities appear more likely to comply with European legal frameworks. According to Croatian law, the extradition process, including appeals, must be resolved within 60 days, potentially setting the stage for a swift decision.