Explosives found near Turkstream pipeline in Serbia
Serbian units found explosives near the Turkstream pipeline supplying gas to Hungary. PM Viktor Orban called a defense meeting as investigations continue.
Authorities in Serbia have discovered high-powered explosives near the Turkstream pipeline, a critical infrastructure link used to transport Natural Gas from Russia to Hungary and beyond. The discovery was confirmed by leaders from both nations on Sunday, highlighting significant security concerns regarding regional energy supplies.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reported that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic informed him of the find. In a statement shared on social media, Vucic confirmed the severity of the discovery.
"Our units found an explosive of devastating power."
Vucic further noted that he would maintain close communication with the Hungarian government as the investigation into the incident continues.
Following the notification, Orban convened an extraordinary meeting of the national defense council. This security alert occurs as Hungary prepares for pivotal elections scheduled for April 12. Orban’s Fidesz party is currently facing a strong challenge from the opposition Tisza party, led by Peter Magyar, with polls suggesting a close race.
The Prime Minister has recently intensified his focus on national security, framing the upcoming vote as a choice between stability and conflict. This rhetoric follows a period of heightened tensions, including a dispute with Ukraine over interruptions to oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. Orban had previously increased security measures around the country’s energy infrastructure in February.
As the election nears, the ruling party has attempted to link the opposition to foreign interests in Brussels and Kyiv. The discovery of explosives near the gas pipeline is likely to further centralize energy security as a dominant theme in the final week of the campaign.
