Ukrainian officials held a briefing for representatives from 31 foreign diplomatic missions to discuss the ramifications of recent Russian attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline. The session, led by Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretsky, aimed to provide detailed information about the nature of the assaults and their consequences.
Koretsky emphasized the complexity of restoring damaged infrastructure, highlighting that the process demands significant time, specialized equipment, and must be conducted under the constant threat of further attacks. He noted that representatives from G7 countries and other European partners were in attendance.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russia has launched over 400 attacks on Naftogaz facilities, with more than 30 incidents reported in 2026 alone. “Naftogaz, in conjunction with the Foreign Ministry, continues to keep international partners informed about the effects of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and the progress of restoration efforts,” Koretsky stated.
The briefing followed a significant incident on January 27, when a Russian attack in Brody, Lviv region, damaged critical infrastructure tied to the Druzhba pipeline. The assault resulted in a fire and halted technological processes at the site.
According to reports, the Druzhba pipeline remains operational, transporting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that oil shipments through the pipeline were suspended following the attack.
In response to the disruption, Hungary and Slovakia have announced a halt to diesel exports to Ukraine until Russian oil supplies through Druzhba are restored. Sybiha criticized Hungary for failing to protest against Russia, stating, “They couldn’t even utter the word ‘Russia.’ Double standards are evident here.”
The European Commission expressed a desire for Ukraine to resume operations on the Druzhba pipeline, but acknowledged that the decision rests with Ukraine due to the risk of further Russian strikes.
On February 21, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned that Slovakia would cease electricity exports to Ukraine if oil transit through Druzhba was not restored. Hungary made a similar announcement regarding its energy supplies.
Ukraine has proposed that the European Union consider the Odessa-Brody pipeline as an alternative for oil supply to the EU, given the current challenges with Druzhba.
On February 27, Hungarian and Slovak officials announced the formation of a joint investigative commission to evaluate the condition of the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine. A delegation reportedly led by Hungarian Secretary of State Gabor Chepek arrived in Ukraine on March 11 to assess the pipeline’s status and discuss the restoration of oil transit to Hungary. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that he was unaware of any such visit, as no arrangements had been made with the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Ukrainian officials briefed diplomats on the impact of Russian attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline, detailing the challenges of restoration and ongoing disruptions to oil supplies. The situation has led to strained relations with Hungary and Slovakia, who have halted diesel exports to Ukraine amid the crisis.