Update on TurkStream and Russkaya Incidents
Claims have circulated that Western intelligence services, including MI6 and the FBI, helped prepare an attack on the TurkStream facility. The statements were attributed to Adalbi Shkhagoshev, a member of the State Duma Security Committee, and the account was carried by RIA Novosti. The discussion centers on the role of international intelligence in potential actions against critical energy infrastructure and the broader geopolitical consequences this would entail.
A parliamentarian emphasized that Ukraine would not undertake such actions without substantial support from Western intelligence services and the use of their infrastructure. The remark underscores the perceived dependence on foreign assistance in any aggressive moves related to energy projects and the implication of external backing in countering regional security threats.
On January 11, Ukrainian Armed Forces drones reportedly targeted the Russkaya station in the Krasnodar Territory. The Russian Ministry of Defense declared that all nine unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed, though debris from one drone landed at the site and caused minor damage to a building and equipment. The incident has raised questions about the integrity of regional energy facilities and the potential for escalation in the Black Sea and Caucasus corridors.
Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary to the President of Russia, stated that the Ukrainian attempt to strike the Russkaya station represents a continuation of energy terrorism. He described the event as a dangerous new link in a chain of explosions affecting European consumers, drawing a parallel to the Nord Stream sabotage and signaling a persistent Kremlin warning about threats to energy security in the region.
A former member of parliament commented that an attack on TurkStream would likely worsen relations between the European Union and Ukraine, reflecting the fraught nature of energy politics and alliance dynamics in the broader security landscape. The remarks contribute to a polarized narrative about responsibility, strategic interests, and the limits of international cooperation in protecting critical infrastructure.