Russia has accused Ukraine of conducting a drone attack on a key facility for the TurkStream gas pipeline, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
In a March 1 statement posted on its website, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, during a Saturday phone call to use Ankara’s influence with Kyiv to prevent further attacks on civilian infrastructure.
The Russian Defense Ministry said all three Ukrainian drones were shot down, ensuring that the compressor station in the Krasnodar region remained operational.
The ministry said the attack coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington and aimed to disrupt gas supplies to Europe.
Foreign Minister Fidan assured Lavrov that Turkey would take “necessary measures” to address the situation.
The ministers also reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination between Russia and Turkey to maintain regional stability, building on agreements between Russian President Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Hungary, one of the European countries reliant on TurkStream for natural gas, expressed concern over the alleged attack. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto addressed the issue in a social media post Sunday, emphasizing the pipeline’s critical role in ensuring Hungary’s energy security.
“The TurkStream pipeline is a guarantee for Hungary’s natural gas supply security,” Szijjarto wrote. “Any disruption seriously endangers our energy security, which is a matter of sovereignty.”
Szijjarto’s comments followed a phone call with Lavrov, initiated by Hungary, during which he sought information on the incident. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov provided the details and reiterated the importance of protecting critical energy infrastructure.
The TurkStream pipeline, operational since January 2020, transports Russian natural gas to Turkey and several European countries, including Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovakia and Greece.
The pipeline has become a vital energy link for the region amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The alleged attack on the Russkaya compressor station highlights the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure in a volatile geopolitical environment.