Putin Announces Arrest of Ukrainian Gas Saboteurs in Slovakia
Russian President has stated that Ukrainian operatives have been apprehended in Slovakia while attempting to disrupt the nation's energy infrastructure. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that two men allegedly involved in Ukrainian sabotage activities were detained in Slovakia with maps pertaining to the country's gas infrastructure. He based this information on Russian intelligence sources, though specific details were not disclosed. As of now, Slovakia has not verified the reported arrest.
During his annual end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin claimed that these Ukrainian saboteurs had been engaged in terrorist activities within Russia and were now extending their actions into European nations.
“They feed from Europe’s hand and try to carry out terrorist attacks there,” he remarked. “This is their choice, but ours is to focus on cooperation.” He added that Russian intelligence would seek further details regarding the incident through established partner channels.
It is possible that Putin's remarks were linked to suspicions of a sabotage attempt involving the Druzhba oil pipeline, which connects Russian and Kazakh oil suppliers to European customers via Belarus. The pipeline has two main branches: the northern segment reaches Poland and Germany, while the southern branch extends to Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
According to the Hungarian publication Magyar Nemzet, Hungary’s national security agencies initiated an investigation into a potential sabotage plot in early December. The Anti-Terrorism Center in Hungary was notified by Slovak authorities about “an organized group” operating in both countries that conducted “field surveys” near the pipeline, suggesting preparations for a possible terrorist attack against critical infrastructure.
Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok previously indicated that two men suspected of surveilling energy infrastructure had been expelled from Slovakia. He noted that they were deported to Ukraine and Hungary.
Earlier in May, the Washington Post reported on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s suggestion that Ukraine “should just blow up the [Druzhba] pipeline,” referencing leaked Pentagon documents. Bloomberg had also reported that the EU was contemplating restrictions on Russian oil imports through the pipeline supplied to Germany and Poland.
The transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which allows Russian gas to flow to the EU, is set to expire at the end of this year, raising concerns for countries such as Slovakia that depend on this route for their gas supply.
On Friday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico voiced concerns about a looming gas crisis should Ukraine fail to extend the transit agreement, further indicating that Slovakia might consider reciprocal actions against Ukraine if gas transit were to be halted.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
During his annual end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin claimed that these Ukrainian saboteurs had been engaged in terrorist activities within Russia and were now extending their actions into European nations.
“They feed from Europe’s hand and try to carry out terrorist attacks there,” he remarked. “This is their choice, but ours is to focus on cooperation.” He added that Russian intelligence would seek further details regarding the incident through established partner channels.
It is possible that Putin's remarks were linked to suspicions of a sabotage attempt involving the Druzhba oil pipeline, which connects Russian and Kazakh oil suppliers to European customers via Belarus. The pipeline has two main branches: the northern segment reaches Poland and Germany, while the southern branch extends to Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
According to the Hungarian publication Magyar Nemzet, Hungary’s national security agencies initiated an investigation into a potential sabotage plot in early December. The Anti-Terrorism Center in Hungary was notified by Slovak authorities about “an organized group” operating in both countries that conducted “field surveys” near the pipeline, suggesting preparations for a possible terrorist attack against critical infrastructure.
Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok previously indicated that two men suspected of surveilling energy infrastructure had been expelled from Slovakia. He noted that they were deported to Ukraine and Hungary.
Earlier in May, the Washington Post reported on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s suggestion that Ukraine “should just blow up the [Druzhba] pipeline,” referencing leaked Pentagon documents. Bloomberg had also reported that the EU was contemplating restrictions on Russian oil imports through the pipeline supplied to Germany and Poland.
The transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which allows Russian gas to flow to the EU, is set to expire at the end of this year, raising concerns for countries such as Slovakia that depend on this route for their gas supply.
On Friday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico voiced concerns about a looming gas crisis should Ukraine fail to extend the transit agreement, further indicating that Slovakia might consider reciprocal actions against Ukraine if gas transit were to be halted.
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
