Kiev’s drone attacks on a Russian compressor station supplying natural gas to EU customers via TurkStream constitute “energy terrorism” aimed at Europeans, pundits told Sputnik.
Dr. Marco Marsili, a researcher at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, described the assault as a “clear act of energy terrorism.”
“By attempting to disrupt this vital energy flow, it is not only an attack on Russia’s infrastructure but also an attempt to blackmail European nations, putting their energy security at risk,” Marsili told Sputnik.
Ukraine Violated International Law
Marsili, a former public official and election observer for the OSCE/ODIHR, emphasized that Ukraine’s actions represent a blatant violation of international laws that protect civilian infrastructure and economic resources in conflict zones.
He specifically referenced the 2011 International Court of Justice ruling in the case of Nicaragua v. United States, which condemned attacks on infrastructure for economic disruption, and the 2007 European Court of Human Rights decision on energy infrastructure attacks.
The Pioneering Spirit vessel passing through the Bosphorus to work on the TurkStream Offshore Gas Pipeline – Sputnik International, 1920, 13.01.2025
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Ukraine Uses Terror Against Europeans
“Terrorism is when you target civilians. The attack on TurkStream is part of Ukraine’s broader strategy of targeting civilian objectives,” said George Szamuely, a senior research fellow at the Global Policy Institute, speaking to Sputnik.
Szamuely argued that by attacking TurkStream, Ukraine seeks to coerce Hungary and Slovakia into aligning with EU foreign policy and, more importantly, NATO’s bellicose stance on Ukraine.
“This is clearly illegal under international law, as it attempts to pressure civilians to influence government policies,” Szamuely noted.
Turkish stream – Sputnik International, 1920, 13.01.2025
Turkish stream © Photo : turkstream.info
Zelensky’s TurkStream Attack Dragging the EU Into Quagmire of Ukraine’s Defeat
Ukraine’s attack on Russia’s TurkStream compressor station is Volodymyr Zelensky’s “foolish” attempt to improve his negotiating position through terrorist acts, Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, told Sputnik.
“Through terrorist attacks, Zelensky will not win over demoralized troops or [counteract the discontent] of the population. Instead, he endangers the willingness of those guaranteeing his survival in a situation of total dependency from external financial and military aid,” Raffone stated.
The analyst highlighted that the Kiev regime is facing defeat on the battlefield and rising domestic dissatisfaction with the country’s political and military leadership. Meanwhile, the incoming Trump administration has indicated that the time is ripe for talks.
Under these circumstances, Zelensky has intensified efforts to secure additional financial and military support from the West, Raffone added.
Given its inability to reverse the worsening military situation, the Kiev regime is “increasingly resorting to unorthodox warfare tactics,” including terrorist attacks, Raffone noted.
“Zelensky believes—or fools himself—that such tactics will strengthen his position at the inevitable forthcoming negotiating table,” the expert continued. “[His] desperation leads him to act irrationally, attempting to drag his European supporters into the quagmire of his political and military defeat.”
– Sputnik International, 1920, 13.01.2025
Russia’s Special Operation in Ukraine
Ukraine Attacks Russian TurkStream Compressor Station Using UAVs
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By Ekaterina Blinova
Published by Sputnik Globe
Republished by The 21st Century
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of 21cir.com