Russia Accuses Ukraine of Attacks on TurkStream Pipeline, Shares ‘Evidence’ with Turkey

Russia has presented Turkey with a diplomatic dossier containing what it claims is concrete evidence of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting strategic energy infrastructure connected to both countries, sources told Middle East Eye.

According to individuals familiar with the matter, Russian officials handed the dossier to Ankara earlier this month, asserting that it includes maps and tracking data of Ukrainian assaults on the TurkStream pipeline and other gas-related sites located in Russian territory.

While Turkish officials have not publicly responded, a source confirmed the dossier was carefully reviewed. Similar packages have reportedly been submitted to European capitals, despite many of them maintaining limited diplomatic ties with Moscow since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

TurkStream Allegedly Targeted by Kamikaze Drones

The TurkStream pipeline, a vital 930-kilometer gas route from Russia to Europe via Turkey, has become a strategic flashpoint in the broader Russia-Ukraine conflict. In January, Russia’s defense ministry accused Ukraine of launching nine kamikaze drones at a gas compressor station servicing the pipeline in Krasnodar. Although Russian air defense systems intercepted the drones, debris caused minor damage to a building and gas metering equipment.

The attacks didn’t end there. Last month, three more drones were reportedly intercepted targeting the same facility. Russia continues to claim Ukraine is escalating assaults on its energy infrastructure, while Kyiv has denied these allegations, calling them “disinformation.”

Despite the claims, gas deliveries through TurkStream and the parallel Blue Stream pipeline—which supplies the Turkish mainland—have not been interrupted.

Strategic Importance of TurkStream to Turkey and Russia

The TurkStream pipeline delivers 31 billion cubic meters of gas annually, while Blue Stream contributes 16 billion cubic meters, cementing Turkey’s role as a critical energy hub between Russia and Europe. The pipelines run through Turkish territorial waters in the Black Sea, traverse Turkish Thrace, and extend into Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary.

A senior Turkish official told MEE in 2023 that Ankara shared Moscow’s concerns regarding Ukrainian attempts to sabotage TurkStream, labeling the project a strategic energy lifeline for both countries.

In a sign of growing concern, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed in January that TurkStream had indeed been targeted, though the flow of gas remained stable.

Germany, Trump, and a Failed Operation

Adding to the controversy, German magazine Der Spiegel reported that former Ukrainian military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi had devised a naval strike plan in 2022 aimed at TurkStream, which ultimately did not materialize.

Both Russia and Ukraine have routinely targeted each other’s energy infrastructure, making it a dangerous front in the wider war. In a temporary diplomatic success, both sides agreed last month to a 30-day moratorium brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January. However, mutual accusations of violating the ceasefire soon followed.

Russia claims Ukraine launched 14 energy infrastructure strikes in a single day, despite the agreement. Ukraine has dismissed the charges as fabricated propaganda.

In a Telegram statement, Russia’s defense ministry accused Ukraine of escalating unilateral drone and artillery attacks on energy facilities in various regions—an allegation Kyiv continues to deny.

Ankara’s Delicate Balancing Act

Turkey’s position remains uniquely complex. It has supplied Ukraine with advanced weaponry, including Bayraktar drones, laser-guided munitions, and ammunition, while also sustaining a robust trade relationship with Russia. This dual-track diplomacy places Ankara in a rare and delicate mediator role.

As regional tensions intensify over energy routes, the fate of TurkStream and similar infrastructure could shape not only European energy security, but also the future of Turkish-Russian-Ukraine relations.