Nord Stream bombing trial opens in Hamburg; ex-Ukrainian officer silent

The trial of a 49-year-old former Ukrainian army captain and intelligence veteran charged with planning and participating in the September 2022 Nord Stream pipeline bombings begins October 14 in Hamburg. The defendant intends to remain silent, leaving the court to rely on evidence and testimony. This is the first criminal trial directly linked to the sabotage, and the defendant's silence may limit public disclosure of the operation's chain of command.