Russia Warns of Plot to Sabotage Black Sea Gas Pipelines — Putin
Moscow says intelligence uncovered plans to bomb TurkStream and Blue Stream to derail Ukraine peace process
Russia | PUREWILAYAH.COM — Russia has uncovered intelligence indicating plans to sabotage its key trans-Black Sea gas pipelines, TurkStream and Blue Stream. President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB) board.
Putin said the planned attack is aimed at provoking escalation and undermining diplomatic efforts to reach a political settlement in the Ukraine conflict.
Intelligence on Planned Pipeline Explosion
According to Putin, Russian security agencies obtained operational information regarding preparations to attack “our gas systems under the Black Sea.”
“They do not know what else they can do to undermine this peaceful process aimed at settlement through diplomatic means,” Putin said.
“They are doing everything possible to stage a provocation and derail everything that has been achieved on this negotiation track.”
Putin did not attribute the alleged plot to any party, saying that further details would be discussed during the closed-door part of the FSB board meeting.
Black Sea Energy Infrastructure Under Attack
Russian gas and energy infrastructure in the Black Sea region has repeatedly come under attack during the conflict, including:
Long-range UAV strikes on energy facilities
Attempts to target Russian naval vessels patrolling pipeline routes
Maritime drone operations aimed at underwater infrastructure
Moscow has warned that such actions represent a deliberate campaign of energy warfare targeting strategic supply routes.
Prior Warnings and Nord Stream Precedent
In October, FSB Director Aleksandr Bortnikov warned that Ukrainian intelligence services, with British involvement, were preparing an attack on TurkStream.
The warning comes against the backdrop of the 2022 destruction of the Nord Stream pipeline, which Russia has consistently described as a state-level act of sabotage rather than a rogue operation.
Moscow maintains that attacks on underwater energy infrastructure constitute acts of strategic aggression with international consequences. (PW)