Turkey and Russia are coordinating actions in case there is a threat to the operation of the TurkStream gas pipeline, and thanks to this coordination, the pipeline is still operating and not damaged - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan shared at a press conference with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
We are maintaining contact on this issue with both Russia and Ukraine. When there is a possibility of an attack on the facilities of the gas pipeline, the Russian side will notify us and we will discuss this issue with the Ukrainian side, Fidan said.
We believe that what is in Turkeys interests should not be used as a target in the conflict. Now, everything is agreed upon, and I am very happy that the gas pipeline is still operating, not damaged," the Turkish Foreign Minister added.
In late April, the Middle East Eye reported that Russia had transferred to Turkey a diplomatic file containing evidence of Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure related to Turkey.
The document was presented to Turkish counterparts by Russian officials in early April. Evidence provided by Russia includes maps and other documents to track Ukrainian attacks on the TurkStream pipeline and other energy infrastructure in Russian territory.
This dossier has been thoroughly evaluated by Turkey. Russia has also handed over similar files to several European countries.
Since 2023, Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of trying to attack the TurkStream pipeline using drones and other vehicles.
In January and March this year, Russia accused Ukrainian forces of attacking gas compressors in the TurkStream pipeline system.
Last year, a senior Turkish official revealed to the Middle East Eye that Turkey's assessment was in line with Moscow's assessment that Kiev was targeting the TurkStream pipeline.
Also in 2024, German magazine Der Spiegel reported that the then-Ukrainian Army Commander-in-Chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, had planned to conduct a naval campaign in the Black Sea by the end of 2022 against the TurkStream pipeline. This campaign finally failed.
TurkStream, over 930km long, is currently the only direct gas pipeline between Russia and Europe. Russian gas is delivered to Turkey via the TurkStream pipeline in the Black Sea, then continues to be delivered to Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary via the Balkan Stream pipeline.
Russian gas is also delivered to Turkey via the BlueStream pipeline in the Black Sea, which supplies gas directly to the Turkish mainland.
