TurkStream is currently the only route for the export of Russian pipeline gas to Europe.
The discovery of explosives near a gas pipeline in the Serbian town of Kanjiža represents a serious security threat, which was intended to leave Hungary and Slovakia without gas. This was stated on Monday by the CEO of the Serbian gas company Srbijagas, Dušan Bajatovič, writes TASR according to a report by the TANJUG agency.
“I assume that it was not aimed at Serbia. According to my political assessment, it was aimed at Hungary, because Serbia would not be left without gas in such a case. The goal was for Hungary and Slovakia to remain without gas, which would have economic and political consequences, especially in the context of the Hungarian elections,” declared Bajatovič.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced on Sunday that the army and police found the explosives in question in the town of Kanjiža in northern Serbia “several hundred meters” from the gas pipeline leading to Hungary.
Kanjiža is located in Vojvodina about ten kilometers from the border with Hungary. The Balkan Stream gas pipeline, an extension of the TurkStream gas pipeline, which transports Russian gas to Serbia and Hungary, runs through its territory.
Military protection from Hungary
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced after Sunday’s extraordinary meeting of the State Defense Council that Hungary “will provide military protection for the TurkStream gas pipeline from the Serbian-Hungarian border to the Hungarian-Slovak border due to the threat of a Ukrainian attack.”
TurkStream is currently the only route for the export of Russian pipeline gas to Europe. The transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory was stopped from January 2025 after Ukraine did not extend the relevant agreement with Russia. The pipeline supplies several European countries, including Slovakia.
