The Sabotage Attempt on the Balkan Stream Pipeline
Belgrade is currently investigating an attempted sabotage of the Balkan Stream pipeline, which transports gas from Russia to Serbia and Hungary. According to officials, a suspect is believed to be “a person from a group of migrants,” as stated by Đuro Jovanić, head of the military security agency VBA.
The incident occurred on the Balkan Stream pipeline, an extension of the TurkStream pipeline. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced that “two large packages of explosives with detonators” were found inside backpacks in northern Serbia’s Kanjiža, “a few hundred metres from the gas pipeline.” Vučić also mentioned that he immediately informed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who convened a security meeting the same day.
Jovanić revealed that his agency had previously warned the government about a potential threat from a “person from a group of migrants” with military training who was plotting to sabotage the pipeline. He emphasized that Serbian intelligence services had been cautioning Belgrade for months about the vulnerability of the gas infrastructure, but their warnings were met with “scepticism.”
The suspect “will be detained,” Jovanić said, adding that the investigation into the culprit or culprits could take days or even months. He also warned against disinformation campaigns involving Ukraine, noting that some online speculation suggests members of the Serbian army might be working “for some other or third party by finding Ukrainian explosives and accusing the Ukrainians of organizing the sabotage.”
“That’s not true. The Serbian army does not interfere in the politics of its own country, let alone any other,” Jovanić added.
Accusations and Denials
Meanwhile, Orbán implied Ukraine’s involvement without making a formal accusation. He stated, “Ukraine has been working for years to cut Europe off from Russian energy,” and noted that Hungary is reinforcing security around the pipeline. Kyiv promptly denied the allegations, with foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stating, “Ukraine has nothing to do with this.”
Moscow also pointed fingers at Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying it is “high likely” that Kyiv is involved in the sabotage attempt.
Tensions and Infrastructure Concerns
Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine have been escalating in recent months, particularly concerning critical infrastructure. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine in early 2022, the integrity of such infrastructure has been targeted. Orbán faces an important election on Sunday, adding to the political complexity.
The Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, has been a source of dispute between Hungary and Ukraine. Kyiv claims the pipeline was damaged in a Russian drone strike in late January and has yet to be repaired, while Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of using the issue for political gain.
Kanjiža, a town of approximately 8,000 people in Serbia’s northern province of Vojvodina, is predominantly populated by the ethnic Hungarian minority. During Europe’s migrant crisis in the mid-2010s, Kanjiža was a key transit point on the Balkan route, with makeshift temporary camps nearby that have since been demolished.
Political Implications and International Support
Orbán dismissed the Serbian pipeline plot as unrelated to the upcoming election, emphasizing that energy security is a government issue, not a campaign one. “The country’s energy security is not a campaign issue, it is a government issue, and that requires calm, strategic calm, not theater, not clowning, but a calm, steady, sure hand,” Orbán said.
Significant support for Orbán has come from the United States, with former President Donald Trump endorsing him in a video message, calling him a “strong leader who fights for his country and his people.” Trump added, “He is a true friend, fighter, and winner,” and expressed his complete and total support.
US Vice President JD Vance is set to arrive in Hungary on Tuesday to support Orbán, with his presence expected at an important Fidesz rally. Vance will also meet with Orbán in a bilateral meeting.
This is not the first time a member of Trump’s administration has backed a European politician facing an election. In February 2025, Vance met far-right AfD party leader Alice Weidel during a visit to Munich, nine days before Germany’s election. However, he avoided meeting with then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
During his visit, Vance criticized European leaders’ stance on democracy, stating there is no place for “firewalls.” His remarks came after top German officials pushed back against his complaints about the state of democracy in Europe, following his comments at the Munich Security Conference about free speech being “in retreat” across the continent.
