The Russian Defence Ministry announced that the Ukrainian military attempted to attack the Russkaya compressor station, which supplies gas to the TurkStream gas pipeline, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The attack occurred on 11 January, and nine drones were shot down by air defence systems. However, falling debris caused minor damage to the gas metering station building and equipment. No station employees were injured in the incident.
Natural Gas flow continues as normal
The ministry stated that the damage caused by the wreckage was quickly repaired by Gazprom teams, and gas flow continued without interruption.
The Russkaya compressor station is located in the Anapa district of the Krasnodar region, approximately 5 kilometres from the Black Sea coast. According to Gazprom data, as of 2020, the station has seven gas pumping units with a capacity of 32 MW each.
As of 1 January, the five-year agreement to transport Russian gas to Western and Central Europe via Ukraine expired. Kiev has refused to extend this agreement.
Following the explosions in the Nord Stream pipelines and the suspension of the Yamal-Europe line, TurkStream remains the only route for Russian gas to reach Europe.
LNG exports will increase
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will focus on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports instead of pipeline transport after Ukraine’s withdrawal from gas transit.
Putin said, “This product is in demand in world markets. We will continue to increase our presence in this area.”
