Overview
- The Federal Court of Justice dismissed a detention complaint and ordered Ukrainian national Serhii K. to remain in pre-trial custody.
- The court found a strong suspicion of involvement in the September 2022 blasts and cited potential charges including causing an explosive detonation, destroying structures, and disrupting public operations, as well as flight risk.
- The decision states the explosions were most likely carried out on behalf of a foreign state and describes the operation as intelligence-directed.
- Judges ruled the pipelines were civilian objects and said covert actions would not be covered by a war-law justification or functional immunity.
- Investigators allege the 49-year-old coordinated the yacht-and-divers operation; the December decision, now public, frames a path toward possible prosecution before the Hamburg Higher Regional Court while inquiries continue.