Key takeaways:

• Russia has accused Ukraine of conducting a drone attack on the TurkStream pipeline infrastructure, claiming the event constitutes "energy terrorism."
• The drone attack aimed at a gas compressor station near the Black Sea; all drones were allegedly shot down.
• The TurkStream pipeline, vital for Russian gas supplies to Europe via Turkey, has resumed normal operations despite the attack.
• Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas through its territory in January, contributing to mounting tensions over energy supplies.
• The incident comes amid ongoing sanctions from the US targeting Russia's oil sector.

MOSCOW: Russia has leveled serious accusations against Ukraine, alleging an attempted drone strike on the infrastructure of the TurkStream gas pipeline, which plays a crucial role in delivering Russian gas to Europe via Turkey. On Monday, Moscow's defense ministry claimed that Ukraine launched an attack on January 11 with nine drones aimed at a gas compressor station in Gai-Kodzor, located along Russia's southern coast near the Black Sea. According to the defense ministry, all drones were intercepted, causing minor damage to the building and equipment at the site, but did not disrupt any gas deliveries (source: India Times).

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, described the alleged attack as a continuation of “energy terrorism” perpetrated by Kyiv and its allies. This assertion underscores the increasing tensions between the two nations particularly after Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas on January 1. This stoppage ended a long-term energy partnership that had been financially beneficial for both sides, as it aimed to cut off revenue streams fuelling Moscow's military operations (source: South China Morning Post).

The TurkStream pipeline, which stretches approximately 930 kilometers under the Black Sea, is currently the only functioning pipeline transporting Russian gas to Europe. Following the recent allegations, the Russian government emphasized the importance of this pipeline, responding to concerns over energy security expressed by European nations. The pipeline, which has a capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters annually, has increasingly come under scrutiny since the onset of Russia’s full-scale military operations in Ukraine in February 2022.

In light of these tensions, Hungary's foreign minister highlighted that the security of energy supplies constitutes a sovereignty issue, urging that any actions threatening this security must be regarded as an attack on national sovereignty. This declaration reflects the precarious balance in the European energy landscape, where many countries are striving to lessen their dependency on Russian gas.

As the conflict evolves, it is essential to note that while pipeline imports have significantly decreased, some European nations have turned to Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported by sea to fulfill their energy needs. Meanwhile, the US has imposed new sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, further destabilizing Moscow's energy resources during this critical period (source: South China Morning Post).

For more details, you can read the full reports on India Times and South China Morning Post.