How Russia, Turkey, Serbia, and Hungary ensure the security of the gas route
By Ali Askari, analyst (Germany), especially for Sangar
TurkStream is a major gas pipeline through which Russia supplies natural gas to Turkey and onward to Europe. It entered service in January 2020. The project was developed to ensure stable gas supplies while bypassing transit through Ukraine. Its importance has increased sharply in recent years: it has become the main route for Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe.
The pipeline’s annual throughput capacity is up to 15.75 billion cubic metres of gas, while its total capacity reaches 31.5 billion cubic metres. A single line can transport approximately 40 million cubic metres of gas per day. This year, the pipeline is operating close to maximum capacity, as all other routes supplying the Russian gas needed by Turkey and certain Balkan countries have been cut off. Approximately 5 billion cubic metres were transported in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of around 10 per cent compared with the same period last year.
TurkStream has become the main route for Russian gas supplies to Europe, strengthening Turkey’s role as a transit country. Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina receive a significant share of their pipeline gas through this corridor. The pipeline has a substantial impact on gas distribution and the energy situation in the recipient countries.
The volume of hydrocarbons transported along this route increases every year, demonstrating continued demand for it. According to Reuters, approximately 13.5 billion cubic metres of gas flowed through TurkStream in 2020, while the figure exceeded 16.5 billion cubic metres in 2025.
Analysts note that gas delivered through TurkStream is cheaper than liquefied natural gas from the United States or other countries. Experts estimate that Russian pipeline gas enjoyed a 15 per cent price advantage in 2024. One reason is the absence of additional costs associated with liquefaction, transportation, and hydrocarbon processing.
Under these circumstances, several Central and Southeastern European countries have expressed an interest in maintaining TurkStream’s stable operation as one of the region’s key supply routes. For Hungary and Serbia, the pipeline plays an important role in ensuring energy security and curbing increases in energy prices.
On 5 April this year, an explosive device was discovered near the TurkStream pipeline in Serbia. Belgrade suspected the involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services or nationalist units. Against this backdrop, Hungary confirmed that Ukrainian attacks on infrastructure had become more frequent. Ukrainian drones had repeatedly attacked the Russkaya compressor station in Russia’s Krasnodar region, which supports the operation of the TurkStream pipeline. The drones were shot down by air defences.
To protect the infrastructure, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey, and Russia agreed in April 2026 to strengthen coordination on ensuring the physical security of this route. This cooperation includes joint monitoring of potential threats, information sharing, and additional measures to safeguard critical energy infrastructure.
At the same time, steps are being taken to mitigate risks associated with the activities of the pipeline’s operating company. In December 2025, the Hungarian government announced a decision to transfer the project operator’s legal registration from the Netherlands to Hungary. The move was intended to protect the pipeline from potential sanctions-related restrictions that could hinder its operation amid continuing disagreements between the EU and Russia over energy issues.
