The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has firmly rejected any allegations linking the country to the recent discovery of explosives near the Turkish Stream gas pipeline in Serbia. Spokesperson Georgiy Tikhiy emphasized that Ukraine has no connection to the incident, suggesting it may be a Russian operation aimed at interfering in Hungary’s elections.
This statement follows Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s announcement regarding the explosives found during an investigation related to threats against the gas infrastructure connecting Serbia and Hungary. Vučić spoke with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who convened an emergency meeting of the Defense Council in response to the situation.
The explosives were located in two backpacks near the village of Velebite in northern Vojvodina, just a few hundred meters from the Balkan Stream pipeline. Vučić described the explosives as large packages equipped with detonators that posed a significant risk to the gas supply for both Serbia and Hungary.
“An investigation is ongoing. I just finished a conversation with Viktor Orbán. Clearly, geopolitical games will not leave us in peace,” Vučić stated. He also noted that Serbian intelligence services had performed well in this matter.
Vučić mentioned that authorities have identified a group suspected of planning to activate the explosives, asserting that the act was intended to send a political message. He vowed to impose strict penalties on anyone caught in connection with the incident.
Reports from Radio-Television of Serbia (RTS) indicated that police and military forces are conducting searches in northern Serbia’s Kanjiža municipality, located approximately fifteen kilometers from the Hungarian border. The search operations are being coordinated from the air, with helicopters deployed alongside drones, search dogs, thermal imaging equipment, and counter-diversion units.
As of now, security officials have not released further details regarding their operations in northern Serbia. Additionally, on March 19, Serbian military personnel increased security at the compressor station in Žabari, eastern Serbia, along the Balkan Stream pipeline, which transports Russian gas from Turkey to Hungary. This heightened security measure was announced by Vučić due to concerns stemming from the situation in the Middle East.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has categorically denied any involvement in the discovery of explosives near the Turkish Stream pipeline in Serbia, suggesting a possible Russian operation. Serbian authorities are actively investigating the incident, which poses significant risks to regional gas supplies.