Oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline have resumed, officials from both nations confirmed late on Tuesday.
The disruption in supply was attributed to a Ukrainian drone strike that targeted an oil pumping station located in Russia’s Tambov region.
This incident had temporarily halted the flow of oil, raising concerns about energy security in the affected European countries.
The swift restoration of supplies underscores the critical importance of the Druzhba pipeline as a key energy artery for Central Europe, highlighting the vulnerabilities of such infrastructure to geopolitical events.
Ukraine steps up attacks
In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its targeting of Russia’s energy infrastructure.
This strategic escalation is directly aimed at disrupting a critical financial lifeline for the Kremlin’s ongoing war efforts.
Oil and gas sales play a pivotal role in funding Russia’s state budget, historically contributing approximately a quarter of its total proceeds.
By striking these facilities, Ukraine seeks to diminish Russia’s financial capacity to sustain its military operations, thereby impacting its ability to procure arms, pay troops, and maintain its war machine.
These attacks often target refineries, storage depots, and transportation networks, creating economic pressure and complicating Russia’s ability to export its valuable energy resources to international markets.
Still reliant on Russia
Slovakia and its neighbor Hungary stand out among European Union countries for their continued reliance on Russian energy, particularly crude oil.
The majority of their crude oil supply is transported via the Druzhba pipeline, a critical artery for Russian energy exports to Central and Eastern Europe.
This enduring dependence contrasts sharply with the efforts of many other EU members to diversify their energy sources and reduce their reliance on Russia, especially in light of recent geopolitical developments.
The Druzhba pipeline, meaning “Friendship” in Russian, has historically been a significant and cost-effective conduit for crude oil to these landlocked nations, contributing to their energy security frameworks for decades.
However, this reliance also presents a unique set of challenges and vulnerabilities for both Slovakia and Hungary as the broader EU bloc seeks greater energy independence and resilience.
“The flow of oil to Slovakia is currently standard,” Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said in a statement.
In the coming days, we will have clearer information about whether there will be any adjustments to the supply schedule for this month…However, I believe that given the rapid resumption of flow through the Druzhba pipeline, the impact will be minimal.
Confirmation
Resumption of oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary has been confirmed by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto.
Szijjarto wrote in a Facebook post:
I have just thanked Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin for the swift rectification of the damages caused by the attack.
MOL, the Hungarian oil company, was quoted in a Reuters report, stating that its fuel production remained undisrupted despite a temporary shutdown.
In March, a Ukrainian attack on a metering station caused a brief suspension of oil flow through the Soviet-built Druzhba pipeline.
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