Ukraine Resumes Russian Oil Transport to Hungary and Slovakia via Druzhba Pipeline
Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Družba pipeline has resumed transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia after repairs in Ukraine.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that repairs are complete and urged the EU to unblock a loan.
- The pipeline's operation was halted due to repair work, impacting oil flow to Central Europe.
The resumption of oil flow through the Družba pipeline marks a significant step in normalizing energy supplies to Hungary and Slovakia. The Ukrainian company JSC Ukrtransnafta confirmed the completion of repairs and the cessation of force majeure conditions, allowing transit to resume.
President Zelenskyy's call for the European Union to unblock a €90 billion loan highlights the interconnectedness of energy infrastructure and international financial support. The temporary halt in oil transport, attributed to necessary repairs, underscores the vulnerabilities in critical energy routes and the importance of their swift restoration.
The repairs on the Druzhba pipeline are complete, and the force majeure conditions that were in effect since January 27, 2026, have ceased to be valid as of April 21, 2026, at 18:00.
This development is crucial for the energy security of the involved nations. The successful repair and recommencement of operations demonstrate Ukraine's commitment to maintaining vital energy corridors, even amidst broader geopolitical challenges. The situation also emphasizes the reliance of Central European countries on Russian energy imports and the ongoing efforts to ensure stable transit.
Repairs are complete. I call on the European Union to unblock the €90 billion loan that has been stalled due to the pipeline dispute.
Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.