Recent revelations have surfaced regarding Russian involvement in the Turkish Stream gas pipeline construction in Bulgaria, sparking considerable concern. Leaked emails from Russian politicians, including Alexander Babakov, suggest that the Kremlin had significant control over the construction process from 2019 to 2021, contradicting Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s assurances of national jurisdiction. This gas pipeline, intended to transport Russian gas to Serbia and Hungary, is anticipated to be the EU’s sole route for Russian gas by 2025. Initially awarded to a Saudi consortium, the construction saw a gradual shift in control towards Russian entities, raising transparency and political approval questions. The European Commission has yet to respond to these revelations formally.

In a separate event, Russia has been accused of jamming the satellite signal on a Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft carrying British Defence Minister Grant Shapps. The incident took place near Kaliningrad as Shapps was returning from observing NATO military exercises in Poland. The jamming lasted approximately 30 minutes, forcing the aircraft to switch to alternative navigation methods. While it did not compromise safety, the act was criticized for endangering civilian aircraft by a defence source. This incident adds to the list of reported GPS disruptions attributed to Russia, heightening tensions amid already strained relations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.