Ukraine Denies Connection to Explosives Near Turkish Stream Pipeline in Serbia

Georgiy Tikhiy, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made an official statement emphasizing that Ukraine has no connection to the explosives discovered near the Turkish Stream pipeline in Serbia. In his statement, published on social media platform X, Tikhiy remarked, "We categorically reject attempts to unfoundedly link Ukraine to the incident involving explosives found near the Turkish Stream pipeline in Serbia. Ukraine has no relation to this whatsoever."

In his statement, Tikhiy also suggested that Russia might be involved in the incident. He speculated that it was likely a Russian operation conducted under a false flag, aimed at interfering in the elections in Hungary. Such accusations from the Ukrainian diplomat highlight the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, as well as with Hungary, where the political situation is becoming increasingly complicated.

It is worth noting that on April 5, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced the discovery of explosive devices in the municipality of Kanjiža, near a gas infrastructure facility connecting Serbia to Hungary. According to Vučić, two large packages of explosives with detonators were found. He also informed that the incident was brought to the attention of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

"There are certain traces that I cannot discuss. It is a large area, with a big lake, so the search took a long time, and helicopter units provided significant assistance. But it is clear that the world, or rather geopolitical games, will not leave us in peace, and that is why we must demonstrate the highest level of combat readiness," Vučić stated, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

Viktor Orbán, for his part, indicated that he convened an extraordinary defense council regarding this incident. This reflects the Hungarian leadership's serious approach to the threat posed by the discovery of explosives within the country.

Additionally, it is important to mention that in March, The Washington Post reported that Russian intelligence had planned to stage an assassination attempt on the Hungarian Prime Minister to enhance his chances of winning parliamentary elections and to maintain Moscow's influence in Hungary. This information sparked significant interest in international circles, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied these claims, labeling them as "disinformation."

Furthermore, it is relevant to recall that on February 16, Viktor Orbán, during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accused Ukraine of interfering in the Hungarian elections. On March 15, at a rally in central Budapest dedicated to Hungary's National Day, Orbán reiterated these accusations, claiming that Kyiv supports the opposition and the EU in an alleged attempt to remove him from office.

On April 3, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Ukraine had allegedly attacked the Turkish Stream pipeline again, calling it "a very gross attack on Hungary's sovereignty." These events indicate a deterioration of relations between Ukraine and Hungary, which already have a history of tension.

Thus, the situation surrounding the explosives in Serbia and the accusations against Ukraine only underscore the complexity of the geopolitical game in the region, where each move can have serious consequences for political stability.