Hungary and Slovakia are calling on the European Commission to urge Ukraine to halt attacks on Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline following a drone and missile strike in the Bryansk region that disrupted deliveries early on Friday. This incident represents the third disruption of the pipeline in less than two weeks.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministries of Hungary and Slovakia emphasized, “In just nine days, the Druzhba oil pipeline, which provides oil to Hungary and subsequently to Slovakia, has faced its third instance of damage. We urge the European Commission to take immediate action to ensure that the energy security commitments for EU member nations are upheld.”
Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó reported that the Druzhba pipeline was targeted in an overnight attack close to the Russian-Belarusian border. He expressed on Facebook, “This is yet another assault on our country’s energy security—a new attempt to involve us in the conflict. It will not succeed! We will persist in supporting every effort for peace while defending our national interests!”
Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Denisa Saková, also confirmed that oil deliveries to her country were interrupted early Friday. She stated on Facebook, “Yet another attack on the Druzhba pipeline near the Belarusian border. Operations are set to halt. We are currently assessing the damage.”
Authorities in the Bryansk region of western Russia reported that Ukrainian drone and missile strikes ignited a “fuel infrastructure site” in the Unechsky district, although the fire was extinguished by morning. NASA’s fire map indicated two active fires in the region, situated about 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Ukrainian military officials claimed that the attack targeted the Unecha oil pumping station and shared footage depicting explosions and significant fires at the site.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses intercepted 19 Ukrainian drones in the Bryansk area overnight, with a total of 54 drones noted in the region.
Previously, Ukrainian strikes had taken the Druzhba pipeline offline on August 13 and August 18. This year has seen Kyiv increasingly target Russian refineries and oil infrastructure, resulting in record high wholesale gasoline prices within Russia.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU prohibited most imports of Russian oil but made an exception for the Druzhba pipeline.
