Crude oil deliveries from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline were suspended on Monday after damage occurred at a transformer facility, officials from both countries confirmed. The Druzhba route, which passes through Belarus and Ukraine, remains Hungary’s main channel for crude imports and also supplies Slovakia.
Hungarian authorities reported being informed that repair teams are working to restore the affected station, though no estimate has been given for when deliveries might resume. The Hungarian government condemned the incident, calling it a threat to the country’s energy security. Later in the day, Ukraine’s military announced that its drones had struck an oil pumping site in Russia’s Tambov region, sparking a fire and forcing a complete shutdown of the Druzhba main line. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry argued that any complaints about disrupted supplies should be directed at Moscow, pointing to Hungary’s continued reliance on Russian energy.
Slovak pipeline operator Transpetrol confirmed that shipments of Russian oil to Slovakia had stopped. The company emphasized that infrastructure within Slovakia is functioning normally, suggesting the interruption originated outside its borders.
This disruption comes just days after a temporary suspension caused by another drone strike, which targeted the Uniecha pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk region on August 13. Despite repeated interruptions, Hungary has stated that the Druzhba pipeline will remain its primary oil import route.
