Russian energy company reports escalation of attacks on TurkStream, Blue Stream facilities this week

ISTANBUL

Gazprom said Thursday that attacks on its facilities that ensure export supplies via the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines escalated from March 17 - 19.

The Russian energy company claimed that 22 drones attempted to strike the Russkaya pumping station. At the same time, three targeted the Kazachya station, and one attempted to strike the Beregovaya station.

“Through joint actions by the Russian Ministry of Defense and mobile task forces, the attacks were repelled, preventing damage to Gazprom facilities,” it said on Telegram.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of the attempted attacks, telling reporters in Moscow that the Russian military is doing “everything possible” to mitigate the threats, which he said threaten critical infrastructure and international energy routes.

Peskov criticized the attempts to attack energy infrastructure as "thoughtless and irresponsible," given the "uncomfortable" conditions currently felt in world energy markets.

He argued that the actions are "capable of destabilizing the situation not only in the region, but also in the whole world."

Gazprom made a similar statement on March 11, indicating that during the last two weeks, 12 attacks on its facilities ensuring export supplies via TurkStream and Blue Stream were repelled.

Ukraine has not commented on the claims.