Putin warns of possible attacks on Black Sea gas pipelines

Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised concerns over potential attacks on the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines, which run along the floor of the Black Sea.

Speaking at an FSB board meeting, Putin cited intelligence reports indicating the possibility of explosions targeting Russia’s undersea gas infrastructure, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

“We are receiving operational information via the media. It concerns a potential attack on our gas systems on the Black Sea floor — the so-called Turkish Stream and Blue Stream. They simply cannot leave us alone,” he said.

TurkStream, launched in 2020, consists of two lines: one supplies Türkiye’s domestic market, while the second delivers gas to southern and southeastern Europe.

The project, operated by Gazprom in partnership with Türkiye, was designed to reduce reliance on Ukrainian transit routes and strengthen energy ties between Russia and Türkiye.

Blue Stream, operational since 2003, was one of the first deep-water pipelines of its kind. It carries Russian gas to northern Türkiye, primarily serving the domestic market. Developed jointly by Gazprom and the Turkish state energy company BOTAŞ, it remains a critical route for regional energy security.

Together, the two pipelines transport millions of cubic metres of gas annually. Their undersea routes make them strategically significant but vulnerable, heightening Moscow’s concerns amid geopolitical tensions in the region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev