A Ukrainian drone strike has halted the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which transports crude oil from Russia to Hungary. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto confirmed the suspension of shipments on Tuesday, stating that the attack occurred the previous night and forced an immediate shutdown of crude deliveries.
Szijjarto reported that he had spoken with Russia’s energy minister, who informed him that work was underway to restore operations. If no further incidents occur, shipments could resume by late afternoon or early evening. Hungary relies on the Druzhba pipeline for most of its crude oil imports from Russia, with supplies flowing through Belarus and Ukraine before reaching Hungary and Slovakia.
The Druzhba pipeline, also called the Friendship Pipeline or the Comecon Pipeline, is one of the world’s longest and most extensive oil pipeline networks. The attack on this critical infrastructure comes at a time of increasing tension in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s border regions, particularly in Kursk.
Ukraine has been targeting Russian energy and military facilities in response to Moscow’s continuous assaults on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. The strike on the pipeline highlights Kyiv’s strategic approach in disrupting Russian resources, hitting economic and logistical assets that fuel the Kremlin’s war machine.
| Druzhba Pipeline Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | Approximately 4,000 kilometres |
| Origin | Russia |
| Main transit countries | Belarus, Ukraine |
| Destination countries | Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland |
| Alternative names | Friendship Pipeline, Comecon Pipeline |
The attack on Druzhba follows a pattern of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and supply routes, aiming to weaken Moscow’s ability to sustain its war effort. Russian authorities have acknowledged repeated drone attacks on critical infrastructure in recent months, exposing vulnerabilities in the country’s defences.
Ukraine’s actions are part of a broader strategy to impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression. By targeting key logistical networks, Ukraine seeks to disrupt supply chains that enable the Kremlin to finance and fuel its military operations. Meanwhile, Hungary, which maintains close economic ties with Moscow, has expressed concern over the interruption of oil supplies but has not directly criticised Ukraine for the strike.
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