Ukraine halts Russian oil transit after Druzhba pipeline strike
Ukraine said Russian oil transit to Eastern Europe through the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline has been suspended since January 27 following a Russian strike that set infrastructure ablaze. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced the halt on Thursday and criticized Hungary for preparing complaints over the disruption while refraining from condemning Moscow’s attack.
The January 27 assault targeted infrastructure in the city of Brody in the Lviv region, according to Ukrainska Pravda, citing industry outlet enkorr. Brody serves as a key junction where the Druzhba pipeline links with the Brody Odessa pipeline, which connects the network to Black Sea oil terminals.
Sybiha posted images on X showing firefighters battling flames at the site, describing the incident as a targeted Russian strike that interrupted oil transit. Ukrainian officials said it marked the first recorded Russian military attack on Druzhba infrastructure located on Ukrainian territory.
Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state energy company, confirmed a fire at facilities in western Ukraine following the strike. Chief executive Serhii Koretskyi said specialists immediately halted technological operations at the site to protect staff and prevent environmental contamination. He added that the attack was the 15th targeted strike against Naftogaz infrastructure since the start of January 2026.
Hungary accused of double standards
In his statement, Sybiha sharply criticized Budapest’s response. He said Hungary had lodged no formal protest with Russia and had not publicly named Moscow in connection with the incident. He described the stance as an example of double standards.
Hungary is reportedly preparing to file another complaint regarding disruptions to Russian oil transit via the pipeline. Sybiha urged Hungarian authorities to acknowledge that Moscow ceased to be a reliable energy supplier when it launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine. He said years of conflict had not persuaded the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to diversify energy sources and called on Budapest to reconsider its position.
Hungary and Slovakia remain dependent on Russian crude
Hungary and Slovakia are the only European Union member states still receiving substantial volumes of Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline. Both secured exemptions from EU sanctions imposed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Hungary’s dependence on Russian oil rose from 61 percent before the invasion to around 86 percent afterward. Hungarian energy company MOL said in its third quarter 2025 report that up to 80 percent of its landlocked refineries could be supplied through the Adriatic pipeline if Druzhba flows were interrupted, signaling a shift from earlier claims that Russian supplies were irreplaceable.
The suspension of transit adds another layer of strain to regional energy security as the war continues to reshape supply routes and political alignments across Eastern Europe.
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