Poland reportedly considers granting asylum to Nord Stream bombing suspect Volodymyr Z

Poland reportedly considers granting asylum to Volodymyr Z, a Ukrainian suspected in the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, and honoring him with a state decoration. Foreign Minister Sikorski reportedly stated in private conversations, “I’d be ready to grant Volodymyr Z asylum in our country and award him an order.” This stance emerged as Germany pursued Z, a diving instructor residing in Pruszków, for his role in the September 2022 Baltic Sea explosions that destroyed three Nord Stream pipelines.

German investigators identified a seven-member Ukrainian team behind the attack, labeled “unconstitutional sabotage.” Poland, however, allegedly facilitated Z’s escape to Ukraine on July 6, 2024, via a car with diplomatic plates driven by a Ukrainian military attaché. German authorities issued a European arrest warrant for Z on June 21, 2024, but Polish officials later claimed it arrived post-escape. When confronted, Polish sources reportedly said, “Why should we detain him? For us, he’s a hero.”

Poland’s reluctance to cooperate extended to ignoring missing port camera footage from Kozobrzeg, where the Ukrainian team docked the yacht “Andromeda.” This occurred amid strained Polish-German relations, despite hopes for improved ties under Tusk’s leadership during Chancellor Scholz’s July 2024 Warsaw visit.