Russia: Russkaya station pumps gas into TurkStream - IFX

Russia’s Gazprom reported that its Russkaya pumping station, a critical node for the TurkStream undersea pipeline, was targeted in an aerial attack on March 11, 2026, as part of a broader pattern of assaults on energy infrastructure in southern Russia. The company stated that 12 attacks on facilities linked to the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines had been repelled over the past two weeks, emphasizing their role in ensuring export reliability to Türkiye and Europe. Gazprom attributed the strikes to efforts to disrupt gas supplies, with the Russian Defense Ministry confirming the attacks aimed to halt deliveries to European markets.

Despite the security challenges, Russian gas exports via TurkStream to Europe rose by 10.3% year-over-year in January 2026, reaching 1.73 billion cubic meters (bcm) for the month, according to Reuters calculations. This increase reflects Gazprom’s efforts to bolster supplies through the sole remaining pipeline route to the EU after Ukraine terminated its transit agreement in January 2025. Daily flows averaged 55.8 million cubic meters (mcm) in January 2026, up from 50.6 mcm in January 2025, with consistent output observed in recent months.

The EU’s phased ban on Russian gas imports, set to fully take effect by late 2027, underscores the geopolitical and economic stakes for Gazprom. Meanwhile, Türkiye remains a key transit hub, with Hungary and Slovakia continuing to receive Russian gas via TurkStream. The attacks highlight vulnerabilities in energy infrastructure amid ongoing regional tensions and shifting supply dynamics.