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Serbian military officials have dismissed claims linking Ukraine to explosives found near a major gas pipeline, emphasizing that investigations are ongoing to identify the actual perpetrators.
Serbian Military Security Agency (VBA) chief Đuro Jovanić firmly rejected allegations that explosives discovered near the TurkStream pipeline in the municipality of Kanjiža could be connected to Ukraine. Speaking to the Serbian news outlet Kurir, he characterized such assertions as deliberate misinformation.
“Disinformation says that the Serbian army and its servicemen are working for some other or third party to find a Ukrainian explosive device and blame Ukraine for it. That is not true,” Jovanić stated.
The VBA chief described the discovery as the result of an “extremely successful operation” that security forces had anticipated for months. According to Jovanić, the operation followed extensive fieldwork and intelligence sharing with relevant services.
“We had information that a person belonging to a group of migrants who had received military training would carry out a sabotage on gas infrastructure,” he explained. Jovanić assured the public that the perpetrator would be detained, though the investigation might take time.
The explosives, reportedly bearing American manufacturing markings, were found in two black backpacks containing approximately 4 kilograms of suspected plastic explosive materials. Jovanić cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the origin of the threat, noting that the manufacturer of the explosive device is not necessarily the perpetrator or organizer.
“Someone will now say that perhaps the United States of America is currently behind something like this. The Serbian army is a serious institution and does not interfere in political processes in the Republic of Serbia, let alone in political processes in any other country,” he emphasized.
The Higher Prosecutor’s Office in Subotica is leading the investigation in cooperation with military police. Chief prosecutor Mladenka Manojlović confirmed that the backpacks contained materials suggesting an explosive device could have been assembled from their contents.
The area where the explosives were found has been under heightened security, with approximately 150 officers from various security services deployed. Searches have been conducted by air and on the ground, and some roads were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić had previously announced the discovery, stating that explosives were found during an investigation linked to a threat against gas infrastructure connecting Serbia and Hungary. The packages were located near the village of Velebit in the Vojvodina region, several hundred meters from the Balkan Stream pipeline.
“We believe we know which group the individuals who were supposed to take the final step of activating the explosives belong to. The goal was to send a political message,” Vučić said, adding that those responsible would face severe punishment. The president warned that the explosives “could have endangered a large number of people and caused significant damage to gas supplies to Serbia and Hungary.”
Following the incident, Vučić spoke with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who reportedly convened an extraordinary session of Hungary’s Defense Council in response.
Ukraine has categorically denied any involvement in the incident. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy issued a statement on social media rejecting accusations against Ukraine and suggesting the incident could be a Russian “false flag operation” aimed at influencing Hungarian elections.
“We categorically condemn attempts to groundlessly link Ukraine to the incident involving the discovery of explosives near the TurkStream pipeline in Serbia. Ukraine has no relation to this,” Tykhy stated.
The TurkStream pipeline is a significant part of the regional energy infrastructure, supplying Russian natural gas to Turkey and several European countries, making any threat to its operation a matter of serious concern for energy security in the region.
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6 Comments
The discovery of explosives near a major gas pipeline is certainly concerning. I’m glad the Serbian authorities appear to be taking the situation seriously and conducting a thorough investigation. Maintaining the security of critical infrastructure is of utmost importance.
While the allegations of Ukrainian involvement are concerning, it’s reassuring to see the Serbian intelligence chief firmly refuting them. Staying vigilant against disinformation is crucial, especially when it comes to matters of national security. I look forward to learning more about the investigation’s findings.
The Serbian intelligence chief’s strong rejection of the Ukraine connection is noteworthy. Misinformation and disinformation can easily spread, so it’s good to see officials providing clarity on the situation. I wonder what motivated the alleged sabotage attempt on the gas infrastructure.
You make a good point. Verifying claims and understanding the motivations behind such incidents is crucial. I hope the investigation uncovers the full truth of what happened.
This is an interesting development in the ongoing tensions between Serbia and Ukraine. It’s important to get accurate information from reliable sources like Serbian intelligence officials. I’m curious to see what further details emerge as the investigation continues.
This seems like a complex and potentially geopolitically charged issue. I appreciate the Serbian officials’ transparency in addressing the claims and providing details on their investigation. It will be interesting to see if any new information comes to light in the coming days.