Canada ships repaired gas turbines to Russia via Germany

Ottawa initially refused to return the serviced Siemens gas turbine because of the sanctions imposed, but then decided to do so. According to a report in the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant, Canada sent the turbine back on July 17.

It is to be delivered to Germany by plane and then to Russia by ferry and overland via Finland to the Portovaya compressor station in the Leningrad region. This is expected to happen on July 24, the newspaper reported, citing sources familiar with the events. The turbine should therefore be fully operational by the beginning of August.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy had previously sharply criticized Canada's decision to return the turbine. In a phone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Zelensky said that Ukrainian citizens would never agree to a decision that "violated sanctions."

The Russian energy company Gazprom had significantly reduced gas supplies through Nord Stream 1 in the Baltic Sea since June, blaming the missing turbine. No gas has flowed through the pipeline at all since July 11 due to maintenance work. The work is expected to last until July 21. However, the European Union expressed concern that Gazprom could oppose restarting deliveries even after the turbine maintenance work, given the tensions between Russia and the West.