30°C
ISTANBUL
Newsletters
Exclusive
7
Russia has reportedly submitted a diplomatic dossier to Türkiye containing what it claims is evidence of Ukrainian attacks on critical energy infrastructure, including the TurkStream natural gas pipeline, according to sources familiar with the matter to the Middle East Eye.
The dossier, shared earlier this month, reportedly includes maps and documentation detailing alleged Ukrainian drone strikes on the TurkStream pipeline and other Russian energy assets.
A source confirmed that the Turkish government had reviewed the materials. "The dossier has been thoroughly evaluated," the source said, adding that similar evidence had been sent by Russia to other European nations.
Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed in January that Ukrainian forces had used nine drones to target a gas compressor station servicing the TurkStream pipeline in Krasnodar. While Russian air defense systems intercepted the drones, one caused minor damage to a nearby building and equipment.
A similar incident was reported last month involving three drones, again targeting the same station. Both attempts were described by Moscow as failed strikes.
Since 2023, Russia has accused Ukraine of multiple attempts to sabotage the pipeline, which supplies natural gas to Türkiye and southeastern Europe.
In 2024, TurkStream delivered 16.7 billion cubic meters of gas, with a total annual capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters.
Following the Jan. 11 incident, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed the attack, stating, "There was no interruption in gas flow after the attack. The pipeline continues to deliver gas at the same capacity."
Bayraktar also emphasized that the pipeline remains a key element of Ankara's energy security, as the country aims to become a major regional energy hub.
TurkStream spans over 930 kilometers, delivering natural gas directly from Russia to Türkiye and onward through Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary via the Balkan Stream.
The pipeline has a total capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters annually, with half designated for Türkiye and the other half for European markets.
Speaking to Türkiye Today, the former BOTAS General Manager Gokhan Yardim stated, "By 2025, TurkStream remains the only pipeline route supplying Russian natural gas to Europe through Türkiye. Of the two pipelines, each with a capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters running under the Black Sea, one serves Türkiye's domestic needs, while the other is used for transit to Bulgaria via the Strandzha station."
German outlet Der Spiegel reported last year that Ukraine's then-commander-in-chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, planned a failed naval operation targeting TurkStream in late 2022.
In April 2024, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-brokered 30-day moratorium on attacks against each other's energy infrastructure. However, both sides have since accused one another of repeated violations.
Earlier this month, Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine had "multiplied the number of unilateral attacks using drones and artillery shells on the energy infrastructure of Russian regions." Ukraine’s military dismissed the claims as "fake" and "disinformation."
Recently the Russian media outlet RIA Novosti claimed that Ukraine launched drone attacks on two gas infrastructure sites in Russia's Krasnodar region, including a key compressor station connected to the TurkStream pipeline.
2 min read
2 min read 2 min read 2 min read
Newsletters