Druzhba Pipeline: Ukraine Disputes EU Pressure to Speed Repairs Amid Hungary Accusations
Kyiv is resisting pressure from the European Union and its member states Hungary and Slovakia to expedite repairs to the Druzhba pipeline, a critical artery for Russian oil deliveries to Central Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that repairs are not a priority given ongoing Russian attacks targeting energy infrastructure and personnel involved in maintenance.
Shipments via the Druzhba pipeline have been halted since , when Ukraine reported a Russian strike damaged equipment at a western Ukrainian facility. Both Hungary and Slovakia attribute the outage to Ukraine, demanding a swift resolution to restore supplies.
“Firstly, it’s not that fast,” Zelensky told reporters, explaining the complexity of the situation. He further elaborated that Russian forces have repeatedly targeted the pipeline, specifically the link between the Black Sea port of Odesa and the Druzhba network. “This is not their first strike and they continue to hit the energy sector.”
The impasse comes as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv on to mark the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, urging Ukraine to accelerate repair efforts. Zelensky countered that the EU is aware of the continued threat posed by Russian attacks. “They advise us to repair it, but they know that there have already been attacks on Druzhba,” he said. “Our people were injured so that it would work.”
Orbán Accuses Ukraine of Targeting Hungarian Energy System
The dispute has escalated with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accusing Ukraine of planning further disruption to Hungary’s energy system. Orbán has ordered the deployment of soldiers and equipment to protect critical infrastructure, a move that further strains relations between the two countries.
Speaking in a video posted on his Facebook page, Orbán asserted that the Druzhba shutdown is motivated by “political, not technical, reasons.” He claimed intelligence reports suggest potential further attacks targeting Hungary’s energy infrastructure. “I see that Ukraine is preparing further actions to disrupt the operation of the Hungarian energy system,” Orbán stated. “I have ordered the reinforcement of protection for critical energy infrastructure. This means that we will deploy soldiers and equipment necessary to repel attacks near key energy facilities.”
Hungary and Slovakia have maintained closer ties with Moscow than many other EU member states and have expressed reservations about the level of military support provided to Ukraine. Orbán’s government has repeatedly blocked EU sanctions against Russia and stalled on approving financial aid packages for Ukraine, linking both to the resumption of oil flows via Druzhba.
On , Hungary maintained its veto on new EU sanctions targeting Russia and a substantial loan package for Ukraine, citing the oil supply issue as the primary obstacle. Orbán has framed the upcoming parliamentary election as a referendum on “war or peace,” arguing that his opponents would draw Hungary into the conflict in Ukraine.
Broader Geopolitical Implications
The Druzhba pipeline dispute highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in Eastern Europe. While the EU seeks to reduce its reliance on Russian energy, countries like Hungary and Slovakia remain heavily dependent on Russian oil, creating a vulnerability that Russia appears willing to exploit. The situation underscores the challenges of balancing energy security with political support for Ukraine.
The outage also raises concerns about the potential for further escalation. Orbán’s accusations against Ukraine and the deployment of troops to protect energy infrastructure signal a significant deterioration in relations between Budapest, and Kyiv. This could have broader implications for regional stability, particularly as Hungary shares a border with Ukraine and is a member of NATO.
Ukrainian Drone Attack in Russia
Separately, Russian officials reported a Ukrainian drone attack on a fertiliser plant in the Smolensk region, resulting in seven deaths and ten injuries. The plant, located near the town of Dorogobuzh, approximately from the Ukrainian border, was reportedly struck by “at least 30 drones equipped with explosive devices.”
Vasily Anokhin, the governor of the Smolensk region, announced the attack on Telegram, while the Russian Investigative Committee confirmed the casualties. Unverified images circulating on social media purportedly show the plant ablaze. This attack, if confirmed, would represent one of the deadliest strikes on a Russian industrial site since the start of the conflict.
The incident adds another layer of complexity to the already tense situation, raising the prospect of further retaliatory actions from Russia. While Ukraine has not officially commented on the attack, it comes amid a broader pattern of strikes targeting Russian territory, as Kyiv seeks to disrupt Moscow’s war effort and demonstrate its ability to strike back.