Repetition of the "Nord Stream" incident? Suspicion of explosives on the "Turkish Stream" pipeline raises concerns among multiple parties

AI Question · Why did the “Turkey Stream” explosives incident come to light ahead of the election?

[Global Times’ correspondent in Hungary Li Zhen, Global Times special correspondent Liu Yupeng, Qi Rong] Early on the morning of the 6th local time, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán went together with Foreign Minister Szijjártó to inspect the Hungarian side of the “Turkey Stream” natural gas pipeline transmission facility. The day before, the Hungarian armed forces had already begun providing military protection for the Hungarian section of the pipeline. On the 5th, Orbán said that someone was attempting to sabotage the segment of the “Turkey Stream” natural gas pipeline that passes through Serbia’s Vojvodina. According to Serbian President Vučić, “highly destructive explosives” were found near the “Turkey Stream.” Reuters said Orbán did not directly accuse Ukraine of being behind the incident, but mentioned that Kyiv has, for years, been trying to cut off Russia’s energy supply to Europe. On the 5th, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry “categorically” denied that Kyiv was responsible for this matter and instead pointed the finger at Russia. On the 6th, Russian presidential press secretary Peskov said that in this turmoil, traces of Ukraine might be found. Reuters said the incident in which explosive materials were found near the “Turkey Stream” pipeline occurred during a “sensitive period”—Hungary will hold parliamentary elections on the 12th of this month.

On the 6th, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán inspected the Hungarian side of the “Turkey Stream” natural gas pipeline facility. The Hungarian armed forces have begun providing protection for this facility. (Orbán’s social media account)

Orbán holds an emergency national defense meeting

According to reports on the Hungarian Origo website and the Hungarian Democracy weekly website dated the 6th, during his inspection that day Orbán said that the situation is extremely grave now, and that the oil blockade incident in Ukraine has already shown the danger faced by energy pipelines. If the natural gas pipeline were also blocked or sabotaged, it would cause even more serious problems. He also stressed that Hungary’s armed forces are capable of protecting the “Turkey Stream” natural gas pipeline.

On the day before, Orbán said that Vučić called to inform him that Serbian military police had found explosive materials and detonating devices near the “Turkey Stream” natural gas pipeline. That same day, Orbán convened an emergency national defense meeting regarding the matter.

A report by Euronews said that, according to Vučić, two backpacks containing explosives were found “a few hundred meters” from the natural gas pipeline, and that they could “endanger the lives of many people” and cause major damage to the pipeline. The BBC said the place where the explosives were found was about 20 kilometers from the point where the “Turkey Stream” enters Hungary.

In Belgrade, Jusić, head of Serbia’s military intelligence agency, told reporters, “The information we have is that a person from a migrant community, who has received military training, will carry out an attack on energy infrastructure.”

According to a report by the Russia Today (RT) TV channel, on the 5th Szijjártó posted a video speech on social media, saying that an attempt to blow up the pipeline transporting Russian natural gas to Hungary within Serbian territory was the “latest act of infringement” of Hungary’s sovereignty. He mentioned that Ukraine had previously blown up the “Nord Stream” natural gas pipeline, and then blocked the “Friendship” oil pipeline, cutting off Russia’s oil supply to Hungary and Slovakia. In recent weeks, Ukraine has used dozens of drones to attack the “Turkey Stream” pipeline located in Russia.

On the 6th, RT said that Philippot, leader of France’s Patriots party, linked the matter of explosive materials being found near the “Turkey Stream” pipeline with the explosion incident involving the “Nord Stream” natural gas pipeline, writing on social media: “Could this be another round of sabotage by NATO-Ukraine targeting critical energy infrastructure?!” He said, “This looks like a replay of the ‘Nord Stream’ incident.” However, in a report, CNN mentioned that Kyiv has repeatedly denied involvement in attacks on the “Nord Stream” pipeline.

Ukraine denies; Russia responds

According to Orbán’s account, 60% of Hungary’s natural gas consumption comes from the “Turkey Stream” pipeline. Russia’s Izvestia reported on the 6th that this natural gas pipeline is crucial for many European countries. Last year, Russia delivered more than 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Hungary through it. Slovakia and Serbia also receive natural gas via the “Turkey Stream.” The Today in Hungary website said that “Turkey Stream” is currently the only effective channel through which Russia delivers natural gas to Europe. Izvestia’s Viewpoint quoted an expert from the Russian Federal Government’s National Energy Security Fund, Yushkov, as saying that if the pipeline is damaged, energy supplies to North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina would also be affected. For Europe’s energy, damage to the pipeline would bring no benefits.

Multiple foreign media outlets mentioned that the timing of this turmoil coincides with Hungary holding parliamentary elections on the 12th. RT cited the views of Russian experts saying that Kyiv is very actively trying to prevent Orbán from winning. At the same time, the provocative actions of the Kyiv regime could also be aimed at European countries—so that more countries get drawn into the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to a report from the US “Politico” Europe edition, on the 5th a spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, Kishi, “categorically” denied that Kyiv bears responsibility for this matter, saying that this “most likely is a Russian ‘false flag’ operation—serious interference by Russia in Hungary’s election.” TASS, meanwhile, quoted Peskov’s remarks on the 6th, saying that Kyiv has carried out similar sabotage many times before, and this time some traces of the interference might also be found.

“This is not the time for political theater”

The discovery of explosive materials near the “Turkey Stream” pipeline has drawn widespread attention within Hungary. The BBC said that Magyar, leader of the Hungarian opposition Tisza Party, accused Orbán of “manufacturing panic.” The British newspaper The Guardian said that on the 5th, Magyar stated on social media that he and the Tisza Party had learned from multiple sources that around Easter, Serbia might experience some “things related to the natural gas pipeline,” and that Serbia and Russia had provided assistance—“and now, this really happened.” The BBC said some recent security experts in Hungary have said that there could be a planned operation in Hungary or Serbia to boost the currently lagging support rate of the Hungarian Young Democrats Alliance, in which Orbán is involved.

The Hungarian Democracy weekly website said that in response to claims from Hungary’s opposition, Orbán said on the 6th that national energy security is not an election issue, but a matter of government work, which requires strategic calm. In a post on social media, he wrote that Europe is moving toward an energy crisis, and this is not the time for political theater.

According to the BBC, at a campaign rally Orbán told supporters, “The ‘Kyiv–Brussels–Berlin’ axis is trying to stop Hungary from getting cheap Russian fuel, so that Magyar can win the election.”

CNN said that one background to the turmoil involving the “Turkey Stream” pipeline is that the Hungarian government and the EU have long had differences over issues including relations with Russia, support for Ukraine, and immigration. On the 4th, Orbán posted a video warning that due to conflicts breaking out in the Middle East, “a severe energy crisis is approaching and is getting worse.” He urged the EU to pause sanctions on Russia’s energy imports.