“Hungary and Slovakia are the only European countries that are still dependent on the supply of Russian oil pipeline. It is expected that the blows of Ukrainian drones on this highway caused annoyance and even threatens to block the fuel trassport. However, the blows of the Friendship Infrastructure and the blocking of Russian oil flows have much broader consequences. According to Western analysts, this tactic is”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
Hungary and Slovakia are the only European countries that are still dependent on the supply of Russian oil pipeline. It is expected that strokes Ukrainian drones on this highway caused annoyance and even threatens to block Ukraine with the trass of fuel.
However, blows on the Friendship Infrastructure and locking Russian oil flows have much broader consequences. According to Western analysts, this tactic is an element of a greater geopolitical game, which also includes the rapprochement of Ukraine and Azerbaijan’s positions, which is also a supplier of oil for European countries.
UA.News tells the importance of “friendship” as the main route of Russian oil in Europe, and as blows on the oil pipeline can affect the removal of Hungary’s veto for Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
The structure and capacity of the Druzhba oil pipeline
Friendship is one of the largest oil pipelines in the world, built in the 1960s and 1970s to supply oil from the USSR to European countries. Its main part begins in Tatarstan (RF) and collects oil flows from Kazakhstan, Caucasus and Western Siberia.
The main pipe runs through Samara and Bryansk to the Belarusian city of Mozyr, where the refinery is located. There, the oil pipeline is divided into a northern branch that runs through Belarus, Poland, Germany, and southern – in the direction of Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. In addition, the route to Lithuania and Latvia was laid from Bryansk through Belarus.
Druzhba oil pipeline infrastructure, 8 thousand km of pipes, has 46 pumping stations, 38 intermediate pumping stations, as well as reservoirs of 1.5 million cubic meters. It covers ten countries and has a capacity of 2 million barrels per day.
After a full -scale invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the EU refused to buy Russian oil, but a certain level of loading of “friendship” was still stored. Thus, in 2024, Ukraine pumped about 11.36 million tons of Russian oil. This is 16 % less than in 2023, as well as the absolute minimum since 2014, as well as for the entire independence period of Ukraine.
According to Expro, Russian oil in 2024 bought Such EU countries:
Hungary – more than 4.7 million tonnes (almost at 2023);
Slovakia – 3.9 million tonnes (less than 15 %);
Czech Republic – 2.7 million tonnes (less than 35 %).
For the transit of Russian oil in 2024, according to EXPRO estimates, Ukraine received almost $ 250 million for example, in 2023-more than $ 255 million.
The transit of Russian oil is explained by a long agreement signed in 2019 and is valid by the end of 2029. Following the declaration of sanctions against the Russian “Lukoil” in 2024, the contract was amended, and the new customer of transportation was the Hungarian company Mol Nyrt, which buys Russian oil on the Belarus-Ukrainian border.
The European Solidarity parliamentarians tried to block this valve, which proposed to prohibit “oil and gas transit through the territory of Ukraine during martial law”.
But Prime Minister Denis Shmigal said that there would be no transit, because in this case, Ukraine would violate the Association Agreement with the EU and the Land of the Energy Charter. As a result, lawsuits are threatened to stop oil supply, in particular to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. As well as appropriate financial claims after international arbitration.
Blows on the Druzhba oil pipeline and the Russian infrastructure
Since the beginning of 2025 the strikes of Defense Forces of Ukraine They were struck Russia’s losses of more than $ 74 billion exceeding 4% of GDP. Military and energy facilities in the depths of the territory received the weapons of the far radius of action, as reported by the forces of unmanned systems of the Armed Forces.
Almost 80% of these blows were directed to oil refining plants and oil depots, which provoked fuel shortage of fuel and forced the Russians to place petroleum products on military bases located closer to the border with Ukraine.
The weekly report, which was published by the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces, Robert Brody Brody Magyar on August 23, showed increasing efficiency of punches on Russian oil capacity. In particular, the Ukrainian military kissed two Russian oil factories and the Druzhba oil pipeline.
“On August 18 – Friendship (Nikolskaya, Tambov region) Hungarians say, worms have been restored in 48 hours. There is no confirmation of launch. August 21 – Friendship (NPS Unecha, Bryansk Region) burned Fine, the worms promised to launch in 5 days. Next will be ”, – Informed “Magyar”.
As a result of the drone blows on August 18, a fire broke out at the Nikolskaya Oil Training Station in the Tambov region, and the pumping of the oil pipeline “Druzhba” was temporarily stopped. Robert Brody commented the blow, noting: “Friendship oil pipeline” is resting. Full of foot pumping for an indefinite period. “
Friendship oil pipeline also suspended work after attacks August 12-13 at the oil pumping station in the Bryansk region. Earlier, in December 2024, at least three attacks were recorded on objects related to the main oil pipeline.
The geopolitical value of the Friendship oil pipeline
On August 18, the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siatro spoke about the Armed Forces attack, which resulted in the supply of Russian oil.
“Ukraine again attacked the oil pipe leading to Hungary, thus interrupting the supply”, Said Siarto on the social network, saying that Brussels and Kiev are trying to “draw Hungary into the war.”
Prime Minister Victor Orban did not limit himself to complaints on social networks, but wrote directly to US President Donald Trump. The text of the letter and Trump’s answer Published Magyar Nemzet.
“Pipeline supplies oil to Hungary and Slovakia, two countries that have no other way to import oil. Hungary supports Ukraine with gasoline and electricity, but in response they bombard our infrastructure. This is a very unfriendly gesture! I wish President Trump’s success in his desire for peace ” – Trump Orban addressed.
Judging by the published letter, the US President allegedly replied: “Victor, I don’t like what I hear – I’m very angry because of it. Pass Slovakia that you are my great friend. “
The criticism of Ukraine was also joined by the power of Slovakia, which is interested in Russian oil on the level with Hungary. In particular, Slovak’s Foreign Minister Yura Blanar stated that Slovak Refinery Slovnaft, which works on Russian oil , is a large supplier of diesel fuel to Ukraine. However, through blows to Friendship, Ukraine can be left without fuel from Slovakia.
In the future, the discussion around the Druzhba oil pipeline has only intensified. On August 24, President Vladimir Zelensky had to comment on the situation around the blows on the Druzhba oil pipeline and additional levers of influence in Hungary. Zelensky suggested some connection between the attacks on the oil pipeline and the negotiations on the veto of Orban on the path of Ukraine to access to the EU.
“We have always supported” friendship “between Ukraine and Hungary, and now the existence of” friendship “depends on Hungary,” – – – said Zelensky, having hinted that Ukraine can continue to attack the oil pipeline, which Hungary receives raw materials until the position of its leadership changes.
Given that earlier Ukraine has avoided the blows of “friendship”, and in recent weeks they have fallen, in the Ukrainian media it has suggested that political prerequisites for damage to the oil pipeline. Particularly against the background of the fact that Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban Orban openly blocks Ukraine’s accession to the EU and launched an anti-Ukrainian campaign at the state level.
In such circumstances, one of the informal pressure elements on the Hungarian leader is carried out by the Ukrainian forces of unmanned systems under the command of Magyara Robert Brody. They have repeatedly kissed the objects of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which continues to supply Russian oil to the Hungarian and Slovak refineries. Such version considered in the material of the EP.
“The new orban course did not leave us the choice. Even though it will hit Ukrainian-Slovak relations. And this is a very powerful pressure – it is believed that opaque oil contracts with Russia (and throwing Russian suppliers for the purchase of oil at high prices by Hungary) is one of the sources of illegal financing of the Orban authorities, ”, – It is in the material.
However, it is noted that even such means of influence do not guarantee concessions from Hungary, as Orban has started its propaganda too far and the time is short.