Italy has halted the extradition of a 49-year-old Ukrainian suspect, Serhij K., who is accused of orchestrating the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, citing procedural violations during his arrest and legal proceedings.

The Nord Stream attacks, which damaged two pipelines in the Baltic Sea near Bornholm, involved multiple explosions that halted gas flow from Russia to Germany and remain one of Europe's most sensitive and unresolved cases.

German investigators believe Serhij K. led a team of seven suspects, including four divers, who rented a yacht named 'Andromeda' to carry out the sabotage, with other suspects detained in Poland and possibly facing extradition.

While some investigations suggest Ukraine's potential involvement, Ukrainian officials and U.S. authorities deny Kyiv's direct role, emphasizing ongoing investigations and information warfare.

The Nord Stream sabotage has become a diplomatic flashpoint, with multiple countries conducting separate yet coordinated investigations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The case involves complex legal and diplomatic issues, with the Italian court's decision to halt extradition marking a significant development that could influence ongoing investigations.

Further legal proceedings and investigations are expected as Italy reexamines the case and collaborates with other involved nations, with the investigation at a critical stage.

Investigators believe K. was not one of the divers who placed the explosives but likely coordinated the operation, which involved underwater detonators placed by others.

A Polish court is also scheduled to decide on Friday whether to extradite another Ukrainian suspect, Wolodymyr Z., believed to have been involved as a diver in the attack.

Ukraine's ambassador to Poland stated Kyiv is not interfering with extradition proceedings, and while German investigators linked the sabotage to a pro-Ukraine group, no official Ukrainian government involvement has been confirmed.

German investigators allege that the sabotage involved explosives placed on the pipelines, with the perpetrators reportedly using a yacht rented from Rostock, Germany, through intermediaries with forged documents.

The suspect, Serhij K., is currently not being extradited to Germany, and the legal process in Italy continues, with the case remaining ongoing.