Ukrainian Strike on TurkStream Poses Threat to Hungary's Sovereignty, Says FM
Hungarian Peter Szijjarto characterized Kiev's attempted strike on a vital gas pipeline as an infringement on Hungary's national sovereignty. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has condemned a recent drone attack on a compressor station of the TurkStream gas pipeline, calling it an assault on Hungary's sovereignty because of the pipeline’s vital role in the country's energy security.
Szijjarto's remarks followed the Russian military's announcement that it had intercepted a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russkaya compressor station on Friday night. This station is essential for the TurkStream pipeline, located in Russia’s Krasnodar Region, where natural gas deliveries exit Russian territory. The Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems neutralized three drones, preventing damage to the station.
“The Turkish Stream pipeline is the guarantee of Hungary’s natural gas supply security; therefore, any potential disruption would seriously jeopardize our energy security,” Szijjarto wrote on Facebook. “Energy security is a matter of sovereignty, and therefore this type of attack should be considered an attack on sovereignty.”
The TurkStream pipeline, operational since January 2020, transports Russian natural gas not only to Turkish customers but also to several European nations, including Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Greece.
Szijjarto also urged the European Commission to clarify its position regarding the attack, pointing out its recent assurances that Ukraine would not target infrastructure intended for the EU.
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov updated Szijjarto on the attempted attack during a phone call initiated by Hungary, discussing the incident and its impact on the pipeline's security.
This attack is not the first involving the TurkStream facility. In January, Ukrainian forces attempted to strike it with nine kamikaze drones, but all were intercepted. However, debris from the explosions caused minor damage to the station.
At that time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of engaging in acts of “energy terrorism.”
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
Szijjarto's remarks followed the Russian military's announcement that it had intercepted a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russkaya compressor station on Friday night. This station is essential for the TurkStream pipeline, located in Russia’s Krasnodar Region, where natural gas deliveries exit Russian territory. The Defense Ministry reported that air defense systems neutralized three drones, preventing damage to the station.
“The Turkish Stream pipeline is the guarantee of Hungary’s natural gas supply security; therefore, any potential disruption would seriously jeopardize our energy security,” Szijjarto wrote on Facebook. “Energy security is a matter of sovereignty, and therefore this type of attack should be considered an attack on sovereignty.”
The TurkStream pipeline, operational since January 2020, transports Russian natural gas not only to Turkish customers but also to several European nations, including Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Greece.
Szijjarto also urged the European Commission to clarify its position regarding the attack, pointing out its recent assurances that Ukraine would not target infrastructure intended for the EU.
According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov updated Szijjarto on the attempted attack during a phone call initiated by Hungary, discussing the incident and its impact on the pipeline's security.
This attack is not the first involving the TurkStream facility. In January, Ukrainian forces attempted to strike it with nine kamikaze drones, but all were intercepted. However, debris from the explosions caused minor damage to the station.
At that time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of engaging in acts of “energy terrorism.”
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
