The Russian Federation's military department officially acknowledged a targeted attack on a strategic gas pipeline node in the Ukrainian border zone. The incident is localized in the Izmail district of Odessa region, which has extremely important geostrategic significance.
According to a report by regional governor Oleg Kiper, the target was an interconnection gas link in the village of Novosilske, located in close proximity to the Romanian border. The specific target was the "Orlovka" gas measuring station, which is part of the Transbalkan gas pipeline passing through Bulgaria and Romania.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy qualified the attack as a deliberate attempt to sabotage preparations for the upcoming winter heating season. "This is an absolutely cynical strike on our energy infrastructure," the head of state said through his official communication channel.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy reported that the attack was carried out with a massive drone attack, involving dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles. Experts define the operation as an attempt not only to physically damage the facility but also to destabilize diplomatic relations with international partners.
A curious detail is that a week ago, the Ukrainian state company "Naftogaz" signed its first agreement with Azerbaijan's SOCAR for importing liquefied natural gas through this same pipeline.
At the moment, the official Ukrainian authorities have not yet reported the exact amount of damage. Initial information indicates that 400,000 cubic meters of natural gas were planned to pass through the station today.