Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia were suspended on August 18, 2025, following what Budapest described as a Ukrainian attack on the Druzhba pipeline, a vital energy artery for Central Europe. The incident, which occurred on the southern branch of the pipeline, has led to a complete halt in oil flows, prompting diplomatic exchanges and raising concerns about regional energy security.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó condemned the strike as "outrageous and unacceptable," stating that Ukrainian forces had targeted the pipeline. He noted that Russian officials were working to restore a vital transformer station, but the timeline for resuming supplies remained uncertain. This marks the second reported disruption to the Druzhba pipeline in two weeks, with a previous incident on August 13, 2025, also attributed to a Ukrainian drone strike on a distribution station in Russia's Bryansk region.
The Druzhba pipeline, built in the 1960s, is the world's longest oil pipeline and a significant conduit for Russian crude oil to Central European countries. Hungary, in particular, remains heavily reliant on this route, sourcing approximately 65% of its crude oil through the pipeline. Research indicates that Hungary increased its Russian crude reliance from 61% pre-invasion to 86% in 2024, while Slovakia remained nearly 100% dependent. In response to the accusations, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha placed the responsibility squarely on Russia, stating that Moscow initiated the conflict and continues to refuse its cessation. Sybiha criticized Hungary's continued reliance on Russian energy, suggesting that Budapest should direct its complaints to Moscow.
The Slovakian pipeline operator, Transpetrol, confirmed the halt in supplies to Slovakia but stated it had no further information regarding the cause of the suspension, as it occurred outside Slovak territory. The European Commission has acknowledged the situation and is in contact with Hungary and Slovakia, emphasizing the importance of maintaining energy security and ensuring the reliability of supplies. Hungarian oil company MOL confirmed that a technical restoration was in progress and that the overall supply of oil to the region remained guaranteed.
This event underscores the complex interplay between geopolitical conflicts, energy infrastructure, and national security interests in Europe. While most EU countries have significantly reduced their dependence on Russian energy since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia have continued to import Russian oil, utilizing exemptions granted for the Druzhba pipeline. Ukraine's strategic targeting of Russian energy infrastructure is seen as a tactic to disrupt Moscow's war machine and reshape European energy markets. This incident highlights the vulnerability of energy transit routes and the growing importance of energy diversification and security-focused investments across the continent.