Germany has put Serhii Kuznietsov, a former Ukrainian army officer, on trial for his alleged involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. Prosecutors accuse Kuznietsov of leading a seven-person team that destroyed three of the four gas lines. The prosecution claims the operation was ordered by Ukrainian state authorities to cut off Russian war funding. Ukraine, however, denies any state involvement in the attack.Kuznietsov denies the charges, with his defense lawyers arguing for his combatant immunity and questioning the evidence against him. They also contend that the pipelines were a legitimate military target. The trial is expected to last around 30 hearing days into February.Another suspect, Volodymyr Zhuravliov, faces extradition challenges, having been refused by Poland and currently appealing an extradition approval in Croatia. Germany believes seven individuals were involved, with one reportedly killed in combat. The trial aims to determine Kuznietsov's role, but the question of who ordered the attack, and by extension potential state responsibility, is likely to remain largely unexamined. The outcome could have significant implications for Germany's energy security and its financial support for Ukraine.