This week, Ukraine’s military targeted the Druzhba oil pipeline located within Russia, according to military intelligence sources in Kyiv who informed various media outlets on Wednesday. This incident marks at least the fifth assault on this vital supply route this year.

The operation aimed at the Taganrog-Lipetsk segment in Russia’s central Tambov region, utilizing a remote-controlled explosive device, as per information from Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) provided to Reuters and The Kyiv Independent.

Slovakia and Hungary are still dependent on the southern section of Druzhba, which benefits from temporary exemptions from EU sanctions that were implemented following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In spite of the assault, both the Slovak pipeline operator and the Hungarian energy firm MOL noted that oil deliveries continued to proceed as usual on Wednesday. Russian officials have yet to issue any public statements regarding the alleged explosion.

Since the summer, Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian energy facilities to diminish Moscow’s oil revenues, a crucial funding source for its military endeavors. November alone recorded a remarkable 14 drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, according to Bloomberg.

A source from HUR revealed to The Kyiv Independent that these actions are part of Ukraine’s response to the ongoing Russian attacks targeting its energy infrastructure.

“The Russian oil network, being the primary revenue stream for the aggressor state and the funding mechanism for the military-industrial complex, will keep undergoing explosions and fires until the enemy ceases its assaults on Ukraine,” the source was cited as stating.