The Russian Ministry of Defense has accused the Ukrainian military of attacking a gas station connected to the Turkish Stream pipeline, with the aim of disrupting gas supplies to Europe. This was reported by local news outlet Crimean Wind on Telegram.
Newsweek has reached out to both the Russian and Ukrainian Ministries of Defense for comment.
Why It Matters
The Turkish Stream pipeline connects Russia to Turkey, while also supplying parts of South and Southeast Europe. This route allows Russia to bypass Ukraine in its natural gas exports to Europe, the Middle East Monitor explains.
Earlier this month, Ukraine stopped allowing Russian gas to transit through its territory. As a result, the Turkish Stream pipeline became the last operational route for Russian gas exports to Europe.
What Happened
On Saturday, Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked the Russkaya compressor station in Gai-Kodzor, Krasnodar Territory. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the attack, according to a post on Telegram by news outlet ASTRA.
The ministry claimed that all nine drones were shot down. However, one drone’s debris caused minor damage to the station’s building and equipment. The Russian Ministry of Defense assured that repairs were quickly completed, and operations resumed without further issues. No casualties were reported at the facility.
The attack has not yet been independently verified by major news organizations such as Reuters. However, reports mention a drone raid in Krasnodar Territory on January 11, and the mayor’s office in the Russian town of Anapa reportedly advised residents to stay indoors.
Key Numbers
On January 11, the Turkish Stream pipeline was said to have exported 47 million cubic meters of natural gas to Europe, according to EurAsia Daily. The pipeline typically transports about 32 billion cubic meters annually.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on January 1 that Ukraine could no longer serve as a transit route for Russian gas exports to Europe after the expiration of an agreement with Russia’s energy company Gazprom.
Statements from Officials
The Russian Defense Ministry described the January 11 attack in a statement shared with EurAsia Daily: “On January 11, 2025, the Kiev regime attempted to stop gas supplies to European countries by launching nine UAVs on the infrastructure of the Russian compressor station in Gai-Kodzor (Krasnodar Territory), which is part of the Turkish Stream pipeline.”
The statement continued: “There were no casualties among the station’s personnel, and no destruction occurred. Only minor damage was caused by the fall of drone fragments to the station’s building and equipment.”
Looking Ahead
The Turkish Stream pipeline has increased Ukraine’s vulnerability in political terms, according to the Middle East Monitor. Losing its role as a transit country for Russian gas has diminished Ukraine’s leverage over Russia’s energy exports to Europe. As tensions rise in Krasnodar Territory, where the pipeline’s infrastructure is located, the situation may continue to escalate.
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