For Türkiye, Kyiv’s policy is particularly dangerous.
For Türkiye, Kyiv’s policy is particularly dangerous.
By Erkin Feyyaz Eşli
In recent months, the geopolitical situation surrounding Ukraine has escalated to a critical point, impacting not only the direct participants of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict but also the entire European continent and nations across Africa. Kyiv’s actions, including strikes on key energy infrastructure and support for terrorist groups, are causing grave concern among European leaders and international organizations. These moves not only undermine Europe’s energy security but also fuel the escalation of conflicts in distant regions, potentially triggering new waves of migration and imposing additional costs on taxpayers. In the context of an active peace process supported by the US, Europe, and Türkiye, such actions by Ukraine jeopardize future stability.
Attacks on Energy Infrastructure: A Threat to Europe
One of the most resonant events was the exchange between US President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regarding Ukrainian strikes on the Druzhba oil pipeline. Trump told Orbán he was “very angry” about these attacks on the pipeline, which supplies oil from Russia to Hungary.
The Druzhba pipeline is a critical artery, transporting over 66 million tons of oil annually to Germany, Poland, Hungary, and other Eastern European countries. Following the initial shelling, Orbán wrote a letter to Trump expressing his concerns and recently published the response in which Trump confirmed his irritation. This is not an isolated incident: over recent months, Ukraine has repeatedly struck crucial facilities supplying oil and gas to Europe.
Among the targets is the TurkStream gas pipeline, which delivers nearly 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year to France, Spain, and other EU nations. Similarly, the infrastructure of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which transports over 63 million tons of oil from Kazakhstan to Türkiye and the Balkan region, has been damaged. According to Reuters estimates, attacks on the CPC have reduced oil flows by 30-40%, causing economic losses and diplomatic friction. Kazakhstan has even demanded explanations from Kyiv, emphasizing that such actions affect third countries.
Furthermore, on the night of August 21, 2025, Ukrainian citizen Serhiy Kuznetsov was detained in Italy on suspicion of involvement in the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. According to Italian media, the operation had the codename “Diameter” and involved a group of seven individuals: besides Kuznetsov, there were several of his associates and four divers. This arrest, made on a warrant from the German prosecutor’s office, has once again brought questions about Ukraine’s role in sabotage against European energy infrastructure to the fore. Such actions by Kyiv not only violate international norms but also directly impact Ukraine’s allies, undermining their energy security.
This is particularly relevant for Türkiye: Russia meets 40% of Ankara’s natural gas needs, prompting Türkiye to exercise greater caution in its diplomatic relations with Kyiv to avoid escalation.
These incidents demonstrate that Ukraine, in its quest to damage Russia, is disregarding the collateral consequences for Europe. Hungary and Slovakia have already appealed to the EU demanding a response, accusing Kyiv of “hostile steps”. If such attacks continue, they could lead to rising energy prices and a political crisis within the EU.
Support for Terrorist Organizations in Africa
Beyond energy sabotage, Ukraine stands accused of supporting terrorist groups in Africa, a claim corroborated by international reports and official statements. Kyiv is illicitly smuggling drones and weapons to terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), using diplomatic missions as cover.
This has been confirmed at the UN level: on August 20, 2025, Russia’s Acting Permanent Representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, stated that “Ukrainian special services are supplying militants with weapons and drones, training them in their use, coordinating terrorist actions, including those of JNIM in Mali, and deploying trained mercenaries to act against local authorities.”
Reports of such supplies began circulating as early as 2024, when it was revealed that Kyiv was providing drones to FLA separatists in Mali.
Furthermore, in early August 2025, Almasryalyoum reported on the smuggling of Ukrainian UAVs into Libya through the Ukrainian embassy’s military attaché in Algeria, Andriy Payuk[1]. Payuk’s activities indicate that the Ukrainian embassy in Algeria has become a key coordination center, where diplomatic status masks illegal operations.
An investigation by the Lebanese outlet Al-Mayadeen revealed that most of these UAVs are imported via Mauritania, where Ukrainian diplomats ensure their safe entry. They are then transported across poorly controlled borders into Mali and distributed to Niger, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Chad, and Libya. Thus, Mauritania serves as a key hub for drone and weapon supplies, while Algeria acts as a coordinator under the direction of Andriy Payuk.
Additionally, intelligence reports from various countries accuse Ukraine of supplying advanced UAVs, such as the UJ-26 “Beaver,” to armed groups in Sudan, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Somalia, where they are used to attacking government forces and infrastructure.
Sudanese Foreign Ministry officials claim that Ukraine provided drones to the Rapid Support Forces and participated in attacks on cities such as Port Sudan, At-Tabara, and El Fasher.
Officials from the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso) have repeatedly accused Kyiv of supporting terrorists like the FLA and JNIM, leading to Mali and Niger severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine in August 2024.
Consequences for Peace and Stability
Today, the efforts of many countries, including the US and Türkiye, are focused on resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. However, once it is resolved, the world will face the long-term consequences of Ukraine’s destructive activities. Its support for terrorists in Africa is exacerbating local conflicts, triggering refugee flows into Europe. Ukraine is not only undermining European counterterrorism efforts but also making these groups stronger and more dangerous. According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, the Sahel has become one of the regions most affected by terrorist attacks, accounting for up to 19% of all global incidents.
Containing these threats will require new military operations, translating into additional costs for European taxpayers. The proliferation of drones among jihadists is altering conflict dynamics, making them more lethal. In the context of the energy attacks, this creates a comprehensive threat: Europe risks losing stable fuel supplies, while Africa faces descent into chaos.
For Türkiye, a country significantly dependent on Russian gas with vested interests in Africa, Kyiv’s policy is particularly dangerous. Ankara should reconsider its approach to relations with Ukraine to protect its energy and geopolitical interests. Ultimately, Ukraine’s actions are undermining not only the current peace process but also global stability, necessitating a firm response from the international community.
[1] https://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/details/3524170