Explosives with ‘devastating power’ found near pipeline supplying Russian gas to Hungary and Serbia | World News

Explosives of devastating power have been found near a pipeline supplying Russian gas to Hungary and Serbia, according to Serbia’s president.

Aleksandar Vucic said two backpacks containing “large packages of explosives” were left several hundred meters from the Balkan Stream pipeline.

This is an extension of the Turk Stream pipeline that carries gas Russia under the Black Sea to Türkiye.

Vucic said millions of people could have been killed if the explosives had gone off.

“I just had a chat with [Hungarian prime minister] Victor Orbanand told him that if the gas pipe there had been cut, Hungary wouldn’t have gas and we were up north Serbia won’t have petrol,” he told reporters.

Vucic warned that anyone trying to destroy Serbian infrastructure would face a “merciless” response and “harsh and severe punishment”.

On Instagram, he said the explosives had potentially “devastating power”.

Orban, who organized an emergency meeting of the defense council for Sunday afternoon, told X “the equipment needed to blow it up” had also been found.

The incident occurred seven days before voters in Hungary decide whether to extend his 16-year reign.

His party is currently trailing in opinion polls, although many people say they still haven’t decided who they will support.

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Orban, seen as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies in Europe, stepped up security around the country’s energy infrastructure in February and sees the election as a choice between war or peace.

Hungary’s leader has been a frequent thorn in the side of other European Union countries in the past month blocked €90 billion loan to Ukraine.