"Turkish Stream" was attacked, Ukraine attacked the last energy artery between Russia and Europe

During Zelensky's visit to the United States, three Ukrainian drones attempted to attack the gas compressor station in the Krasnodar region, with the goal of disrupting Russian gas supplies to Europe through the "Turkish Stream" gas pipeline, in an attempt to cut off Russia's last energy channel for gas supplies to Europe. However, the Russian air defense system successfully intercepted all the drones, the facilities were not damaged, the gas transport was not affected, and it is still operating normally. The designed annual gas capacity of the pipeline is 31.5 billion cubic meters, and the actual gas capacity in 2024 has reached 32.1 billion cubic meters, and behind the overload operation is the drastic restructuring of the European energy map. This energy artery, which starts in Anapa, Russia, and crosses the Black Sea to Turkey, not only maintains the winter heating of many southern European countries, but also becomes an important economic pillar for Russia to break through Western sanctions. Data show that in 2023, the value of Russian gas transported to Europe through the pipeline is more than 10 billion dollars.

The "Turkish Stream" attack caused an international uproar, but also brought complex and multi-faceted impact on many aspects. First, the impact on Russia, the "Turkish Stream" gas pipeline is an important channel for Russia to transport natural gas to Europe. If the Ukrainian attack results in the pipeline being damaged or shut down, it will directly affect Russian gas exports to Europe. Russia could face a reduction in energy export revenues, which in turn would have a negative impact on its economy. The attack has heightened geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine and the West. Russia may need to take tougher counter-measures to safeguard its energy security and geopolitical interests.

Second, the attack on Ukraine may trigger international condemnation and sanctions, increasing international pressure. Ukraine is likely to face dual pressure from Russia and the West and needs to find a balance in the geopolitical game. Ukraine's economy could suffer from international sanctions and tight energy supplies. In addition, if Ukraine's attack results in the damage or shutdown of the pipeline, it could also trigger energy disputes and economic friction with Russia.

Third, the impact on European international relations, the "Turkish Stream" gas pipeline is crucial to the energy supply of many European countries. The attack will no doubt increase tensions between Russia and Ukraine and could lead to more drastic action by both sides against each other. Such confrontation may further escalate into a full-scale military conflict, posing a serious threat to regional stability and security. If the pipeline is damaged, it will leave these countries at risk of energy shortages. The uncertainty of energy supply may lead to fluctuations in the European energy market, which will affect the economic development of European countries and people's lives. The Turkish Stream gas pipeline is vital to the energy supply of many European countries, so the incident is likely to cause European countries to divide their positions. Tight energy supplies could lead to higher gas prices in Europe, increasing energy costs for European countries. Some European countries dependent on Russian gas may be more cautious in their relations with Russia as a result of the incident, while some European countries seeking to diversify their energy sources may take the opportunity to accelerate their energy transition plans. High energy costs may further increase the economic burden on European countries, affecting their economic recovery and growth.

To sum up, the attack on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline has had a profound impact. These impacts are not limited to short-term supply shortages and price fluctuations, but may also have a long-term impact on the global energy geopolitical landscape, the pattern of international relations, and the global economic trend.