Russia says Ukraine attacked Black Sea gas pipeline protection ship

Russia accused Ukraine of using suicide boats to attack the reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs, which was patrolling a gas pipeline off the coast of Türkiye.

"Ukrainian forces failed in their attempt to use three unmanned suicide boats to attack the Ivan Khurs ship of the Black Sea Fleet, which was on patrol to ensure the safety of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in Turkey's exclusive economic zone," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on May 24.

General Konashenkov said the three Ukrainian suicide boats were destroyed by “conventional fire from Russian warships” about 140 kilometers northeast of the Bosphorus Strait. Video released by the Russian military showed the crew of the Ivan Khurs hitting the suicide boat at close range and causing it to explode.

Russia says Ukraine attacked Black Sea gas pipeline protection ship — A suicide boat destroyed by the Ivan Khurs ship in the Black Sea in a video released on May 24. Video: *Zvezda*

“After the terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in September 2022, the Russian military took a number of measures to protect similar infrastructure. This has worked,” Konashenkov added.

Ukrainian and Turkish officials have not commented on the information.

Ivan Khurs is one of two Project 18280 reconnaissance ships commissioned by the Russian Navy in 2015-2018, capable of reconnaissance, signal intelligence data collection, electronic warfare, command, communications and fleet coordination. The ship can also detect and track missiles, and support air defense operations.

The Ivan Khurs spy ship has a displacement of 4,000 tons, a crew of 120, is equipped with two 14.5 mm MTPU machine guns and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles for self-defense.

Two gas pipelines connecting Russia to Türkiye. Graphics: Gazprom — Two gas pipelines connecting Russia to Turkey. Graphics: *Gazprom*

The Turk Stream gas pipeline cuts across the Black Sea, carrying gas from Russia's Taman Peninsula to the Turkish city of Luleburgaz. Meanwhile, the Blue Stream runs north-south, connecting to the port city of Samsun.

Ankara and Moscow agreed last year to establish a transit hub for Russian gas to Europe via Türkiye, to replace the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. When implemented, the project will turn Türkiye into Europe's largest gas transit hub.

Vu Anh (According to Interfax, Reuters )

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