Explosives Discovered Near Critical Gas Infrastructure
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced the discovery of explosive devices with detonators near key gas infrastructure supplying Russian gas to the country.
According to him, the devices were found a few hundred meters from the TurkStream Gas Pipeline near the village of Velebit in the Kanjiza municipality.
Vucic described the explosives as having “high destructive power”, including two backpacks and two large bags filled with explosive materials and detonation mechanisms. Serbian security forces have launched an investigation. While authorities have identified certain leads, Vucic refrained from naming suspects, referring only to “groups of individuals.”
Hungary Convenes Emergency Defense Council
To mitigate potential risks, Vucic immediately informed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who responded by urgently convening Hungary’s Defense Council on April 5.
Orban stated that the discovered devices posed a threat to a critical energy link connecting Serbia and Hungary.
Military Protection for Energy Corridor
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that the entire Hungarian section of the TurkStream pipeline – from the Serbian border to Slovakia – will now be guarded by armed forces.
He added that Hungary, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey have agreed on strict measures to secure this key gas supply route.
Warnings of Harsh Consequences
Vucic warned of severe punishment for anyone attempting to damage Serbia’s critical infrastructure:
“The destructive power of the explosives could have endangered many lives… Anyone we catch attempting to destroy vital infrastructure will be punished ruthlessly and severely.”
Strategic Importance of the Pipeline
The TurkStream Gas Pipeline is a major route for delivering Russian gas to Southern and Central Europe. Through Serbia and Hungary, it supplies significant volumes of energy, including approximately 7.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Hungary last year.
The Zabari compressor station, built in 2021, plays a key role in this network. Security at the facility had already been strengthened earlier this year.
Potential Sabotage Under Investigation
Experts describe the incident as a possible sabotage attempt targeting energy infrastructure. Vučić did not rule out that it could have been a planned terrorist act.
While European capitals have not yet issued official statements, authorities in Belgrade and Budapest have already called the incident a serious challenge to regional security.
