Lawyers for Serhiy Kuznetsov, a former Ukrainian military officer, presented a surprising argument Wednesday at the start of his trial in Germany. Kuznetsov is accused of orchestrating the September 2022 attack on the Nord Stream pipelines, Russia’s largest gas pipelines to Europe. The defense’s opening statement signaled an unexpected legal strategy in the high-profile case. He is alleged to have led a team of Ukrainian agents, including divers and an explosives expert, to carry out the sabotage. The trial is being closely watched internationally, given the geopolitical implications of the incident and accusations of state-sponsored attacks. Details of the surprising plea were not immediately released, but suggest a potential shift in the defense’s approach to the charges.