Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently in a phone conversation with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, as confirmed by the Office of the President of Ukraine. Zelensky has extended an invitation for Fico to visit Ukraine to discuss ongoing issues.
On January 27, a Russian attack targeted critical infrastructure in Brody, located in the Lviv region, damaging an essential facility associated with the Druzhba oil pipeline. The Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz reported that the assault led to a fire and halted operations at the site.
The incident involves a facility in Brody that plays a crucial role in transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, which remains operational despite the attack.
On February 12, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline had been suspended since January 27 due to the attack. He also indicated that Budapest was preparing to file complaints regarding transit issues.
Sybiha criticized Hungary’s response, stating, “Hungary has not expressed any protest to Russia regarding this matter. They have not even been able to utter the word Russia. This exemplifies double standards in full view.”
In light of the disruption, both the Hungarian and Slovak governments declared a halt to diesel exports to Ukraine until Russian oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed Budapest about the damage caused by the Russian attack on the Druzhba pipeline in Brody on January 27, asserting that accusations of delays in supply from Ukraine are unfounded.
The European Commission has expressed a desire for Ukraine to resume operations on the Druzhba pipeline. However, due to the risk of further Russian attacks, it stated that the decision rests with Ukraine.
On February 21, Prime Minister Fico announced that Slovakia would cease electricity exports to Ukraine on February 23 if Ukraine did not restore oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. A similar statement was made by the Hungarian government.
In response, Ukraine proposed to the European Union the use of the Odessa-Brody pipeline as an alternative for oil supplies to the EU, given the damage to the Druzhba pipeline.
On February 23, Fico confirmed that Slovakia had halted electricity exports to Ukraine due to the cessation of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline. In response, the Ukrainian energy company Ukrenergo stated that the potential suspension of emergency electricity supplies from Slovakia would not impact the situation in Ukraine’s unified energy system. They also noted that no official documentation regarding the termination of the agreement had been received from the Slovak side.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to significant disruptions in oil supply, particularly affecting the Druzhba pipeline. Following a Russian attack, both Slovakia and Hungary have responded by halting energy exports to Ukraine, while Ukraine seeks alternative oil supply routes.