Gazprom Reports Drone Attacks on TurkStream and Blue Stream Pipeline Facilities

Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled energy giant, reported on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, that its facilities in southern Russia, including those linked to the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, have been the target of repeated aerial attacks. Moscow alleges these attacks are an attempt to disrupt gas exports to Turkey and southeastern Europe.

Recent Attacks and Damage Assessments

According to Gazprom, the facilities have been attacked 12 times over the past two weeks. The latest incident involved a drone attack on the Russkaya compressor station in the Krasnodar region on Wednesday. Prior to that, the Beregovaya and Kazachya compressor stations, also in the Krasnodar region, were targeted the previous day. Gazprom maintains that all attacks have been repelled and that the infrastructure continues to operate [Reuters], [The Moscow Times].

Russian Response and Allegations

Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that air defenses intercepted 10 drones over the Russkaya station and 14 over the Beregovaya station overnight. They allege the attacks aimed to halt gas supplies to European consumers [Reuters]. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the attacks as “very alarming” and stated Russia had previously warned Turkey about potential sabotage attempts targeting the pipelines. Peskov emphasized the importance of these routes for Europe’s energy security, particularly given disruptions in global energy markets caused by the war involving Iran [The Moscow Times].

Strategic Importance of the Pipelines

The TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines are crucial for Russian gas exports to Europe, especially after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine severed many other export routes [Reuters]. Serbia, Hungary, and Slovakia are among the countries receiving gas through TurkStream [World Energy News]. Russia’s pipeline-gas exports to Europe fell by 44% to around 18 billion cubic meters in 2025, the lowest level since the mid-1970s [World Energy News].

Ukraine’s Response and Previous Warnings

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on Gazprom’s claims. Yet, President Vladimir Putin stated on February 24th that Moscow had “operational information” suggesting Ukraine planned to sabotage the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, alleging it was an attempt to derail diplomatic efforts to end the war [The Moscow Times].

Global Energy Market Context

These incidents occur amid heightened tensions in global energy markets, exacerbated by recent attacks on Iran and subsequent increases in oil and gas prices. Putin has stated Russia is prepared to supply oil and gas to European buyers, warning that a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt Middle Eastern oil production and lead to inflation and industrial disruptions in Europe [The Moscow Times].