Russian crude oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia were suspended on August 18, 2025, following an attack on a transformer station along the Druzhba pipeline. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó condemned the incident as an "outrageous and unacceptable" strike against Hungary's energy security. He stated that Russian officials were working on repairs but could not provide a timeline for the resumption of supplies.
Szijjártó also voiced his government's stance on the conflict, asserting that Hungary has no part in the war and aims to remain neutral. He suggested that Brussels and Kyiv have been attempting to involve Hungary in the conflict and reminded Ukrainian decision-makers of Hungary's vital role in powering Ukraine through electricity supplies. Slovak pipeline operator Transpetrol confirmed the interruption of oil supplies to Slovakia, noting that the incident occurred outside Slovak territory and they had no further information on the cause.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha responded to Szijjártó's accusations by stating that Russia, not Ukraine, initiated the war and that Hungary should direct its grievances towards Moscow. The Druzhba pipeline is a critical energy artery for Eastern Europe, and its disruption highlights the vulnerability of energy supply chains to geopolitical conflicts. Hungary and Slovakia are heavily reliant on Russian oil, with Hungary receiving over 50% of its oil imports through the pipeline.
This incident follows a previous halt in supplies on August 13, when Ukraine reported drone attacks on an oil pumping station in Russia's Bryansk region. In response to such vulnerabilities, Hungary's MOL Group and MVM Group have been working to diversify energy supplies. In May 2025, they signed an oil trading agreement to increase the processing of alternative crude oil, aiming to boost the use of non-Russian crude by up to 160,000 tons annually through imports from the Caspian region. This diversification strategy is crucial for enhancing the region's energy independence and security.
Despite these efforts, the immediate impact of the pipeline disruption underscores the ongoing challenges in securing stable energy flows amidst regional instability. The European Union had previously granted exemptions for Druzhba pipeline deliveries to Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic following the invasion of Ukraine, allowing these countries time to secure alternative import sources. The Czech Republic has since ended its reliance on the pipeline.