sabotage in modern European history. Prosecutors say Serhii Kuznetsov played a leading role in a team of saboteurs that destroyed the pipelines, accusing him of a war crime. His defense has called for the case to be dismissed. The case is highly sensitive in Germany, seen as one of Ukraine's closest allies since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, seven months before the attacks took place. Extradited to Germany last year, Kuznetsov denies the charges, as does a second suspect who is fighting extradition from Croatia. Kuznetsov became the first suspect to go on trial for the blasts on Wednesday morning, and a packed public gallery looked on as he entered the courtroom, appearing relaxed. He even smiled at times, including during initial exchanges where he spoke to confirm personal details such as his name and place of birth. He had previously only been identified by German prosecutors as Serhii K and pictured with his face blurred, before the court lifted an anonymity order on Wednesday. Kuznetsov, 50, wore a pair of headphones and appeared to listen intently to a translation of proceedings in Ukrainian, as the prosecution read out the charges against him, of ordering divers and an explosive expert to attack civilian infrastructure. The defense outlined their case, telling the court that only circumstantial evidence had emerged in the four years since the Nord Stream blasts. They argued that as a soldier the defendant was bound to secrecy, and therefore he could not have a fair trial in which he spoke freely. (BBC)