Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia
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Ukrainian Attack Suspends Russian Oil Flows to Hungary, Slovakia
Hungary, Slovakia call on Europe to guarantee supply security. Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia could be suspended for at least five days. Latest Ukrainian strike on a facility in Russia, the Hungarian and Slovakian governments said on Friday. Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure over the past few weeks despite a push by U.S. President Donald Trump to reach a deal to end the conflict. The European Union reduced energy supplies from Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and is seeking to phase out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027. The EU members Slovakia and Hungary are opposed to the phase-out, saying their economies depend on the Russian supplies. The two countries have also opposed to sanctions against Russia that Ukraine says are vital to push Moscow towards a viable peace. A Russian industry source also said the supplies could be halted for a few days.
Ukraine stepping up attacks on Russian energy infrastructure
Unecha pumping station key part of Europe-bound Druzhba pipeline
Russian regional governor says Unecha site catches fire as result of Ukrainian missile, drone attacks
Oil flows could be halted for five days
Hungary, Slovakia call on Europe to guarantee supply security
KYIV/BUDAPEST, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia could be suspended for at least five days following the latest Ukrainian strike on a facility in Russia, the Hungarian and Slovakian governments said on Friday, in a widening of the fallout of the Ukraine war.
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Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure over the past few weeks despite a push by U.S. President Donald Trump to reach a deal to end the conflict, which is now in its fourth year.
The European Union reduced energy supplies from Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and is seeking to phase out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
EU members Slovakia and Hungary are opposed to the phase-out, saying their economies depend on the Russian supplies. The two countries have also opposed to sanctions against Russia that Ukraine says are vital to push Moscow towards a viable peace.
The Hungarian and Slovak governments wrote to Europe’s executive Commission on Friday saying that the latest Ukrainian attack could leave them without Russian oil imports for at least five days, urging it to guarantee the security of supplies.
“The physical and geographical reality is that without this pipeline, the safe supply of our countries is simply not possible,” Foreign Ministers Peter Szijjarto and Juraj Blanar said in a letter.
The Ukrainian strike on Thursday night marked the second time this week that Russian oil supplies have been cut to Hungary and Slovakia, after a halt on Monday and Tuesday.
Ukraine’s military said late on Thursday it had again struck the Unecha oil pumping station, a critical part of Russia’s Europe-bound Druzhba oil pipeline, the commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces said late on Thursday.
A Russian industry source also said the supplies could be halted for a few days. The Russian energy ministry did not reply to a request for comment.
Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s gas infrastructure, hitting preparations for winter heating for the population and fuel for key industries in attacks it says are aimed at degrading its military. Ukraine has damaged several Russian refineries, aiming to disrupt Russian energy exports financing Russia’s invasion and create fuel shortages in a number of Russian regions.
GERMANY SAYS KAZAKH OIL SUPPLY UNAFFECTED
The Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus and Ukraine, ships oil from Kazakhstan to Germany as well as from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia. Germany said its supplies of Kazakh oil were unaffected by the latest strike.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said his government learned on Thursday evening of the attack.
“This is another attack against our energy security,” Szijjarto wrote on Facebook.
Slovak pipeline operator Transpetrol confirmed the interruption in an emailed statement.
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, posted a video on Telegram messenger showing a large fire at a facility with numerous fuel tanks. Reuters could not confirm the location of the infrastructure in the video.
Russian regional governor Alexander Bogomaz, whose Bryansk region borders both Ukraine and Belarus in the far west of Russia, said on Friday that an energy facility at Unecha had caught fire as a result of Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, adding that the blaze has been extinguished.
“As a result of repelling a combined attack carried out by HIMARS MLRS missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, a fire broke out at a fuel infrastructure facility in the Unecha district,” Bogomaz said on Telegram.
Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko and Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv, Anita Komuves in Budapest, Vera Dvorakova in Gdansk and Riham Alkousaa in Berlin; editing by Mark Potter, David Goodman, Mark Heinrich, Philippa Fletcher
Ukraine strike halts Druzhba flows to Hungary and Slovakia again
Ukraine hit the Druzhba oil pipeline near Unecha in Russia’s Bryansk region overnight on 21 August, halting Russian crude deliveries.
Ukraine strike halts Druzhba flows to Hungary and Slovakia again
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Ukrainian attack suspends Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia
Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia could be suspended for at least five days after a Ukrainian strike on a facility in Russia. Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. The European Union reduced energy supplies from Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and is seeking to phase out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban published on Friday a letter he wrote to Trump in which he says that Ukraine attacked Druzhba just days before the U.S. president met Putin in Alaska on August 15. Germany said its supplies of Kazakh oil, particularly to the PCK Schwedt refinery that supplies Berlin, were unaffected by the latest strike. The EU says it has invested in energy infrastructure in Croatia that could provide the two countries with alternative supplies. The Russian energy ministry did not reply to a request for comment. The strike on Thursday night marked the second time this week that Russian oil supplies have been cut.
Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, hitting Ukrainian domestic heating supplies, Russia’s Druzhba pipeline and other facilities, over the past few weeks as U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a deal to end the conflict.
The European Union reduced energy supplies from Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and is seeking to phase out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
EU members Slovakia and Hungary have maintained relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and opposed sanctions against Russia that Ukraine says are vital to make Moscow drop unacceptable war demands. They also oppose the phase-out of Russian energy supplies via the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban published on Friday a letter he wrote to Trump in which he says that Ukraine attacked Druzhba just days before the U.S. president met Putin in Alaska on August 15. Orban called the attack a “very unfortunate move”.
A photocopy of the letter posted by Orban on Facebook showed what appeared to be a handwritten note on it from Trump, saying: “Viktor – I do not like hearing this – I am very angry about it.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Hungarian and Slovak foreign ministers also wrote to the European Commission on Friday saying that the latest Ukrainian attack could leave them without Russian oil imports for at least five days, urging it to guarantee the security of supplies.
“The physical and geographical reality is that without this pipeline, the safe supply of our countries is simply not possible,“ Hungary’s Peter Szijjarto and Slovakia’s Juraj Blanar said in their letter.
The EU says it has invested in energy infrastructure in Croatia that could provide the two countries with alternative supplies.
The Ukrainian strike on Thursday night marked the second time this week that Russian oil supplies have been cut to Hungary and Slovakia, after a halt on Monday and Tuesday.
Ukraine’s military said late on Thursday it had again struck the Unecha oil pumping station, a critical part of Russia’s Europe-bound Druzhba oil pipeline.
A Russian industry source also said the supplies could be halted for a few days. The Russian energy ministry did not reply to a request for comment.
Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s gas infrastructure, hitting preparations for winter heating for the population and fuel for key industries in attacks it says are aimed at degrading the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine has damaged several Russian refineries, aiming to disrupt Russian energy exports financing Russia’s invasion and create fuel shortages in a number of Russian regions.
GERMANY SAYS KAZAKH OIL SUPPLY UNAFFECTED
The Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus and Ukraine, ships oil from Kazakhstan to Germany as well as from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia. Germany said its supplies of Kazakh oil, particularly to the PCK Schwedt refinery that supplies Berlin, were unaffected by the latest strike.
“Security of supply is assured,“ the economy ministry said.
Kazakhstan also said its oil flows via Druzhba were not affected.
Hungarian minister Szijjarto said his government learned on Thursday evening of the attack.
“This is another attack against our energy security,“ he wrote on Facebook.
Slovak pipeline operator Transpetrol confirmed the interruption in an emailed statement.
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems forces, posted a video on Telegram messenger showing a large fire at a facility with numerous fuel tanks. Reuters could not confirm the location of the infrastructure in the video.
Russian regional governor Alexander Bogomaz, whose Bryansk region borders both Ukraine and Belarus in the far west of Russia, said on Friday that an energy facility at Unecha had caught fire as a result of Ukrainian missile and drone attacks, adding that the blaze has been extinguished.
“As a result of repelling a combined attack carried out by HIMARS MLRS missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, a fire broke out at a fuel infrastructure facility in the Unecha district,“ Bogomaz said on Telegram. – REUTERS
New Ukrainian Strike Halts Pipeline Oil Flow to Hungary and Slovakia Again
The Druzhba pipeline carries Russian crude to Central Europe. The pipeline is a key artery of oil supply from Russia to Europe. Hungary and Slovakia have continued to rely on the Soviet-era infrastructure for most of their crude oil supply. Russian crude oil flows via pipeline are not subject to sanctions or embargoes, as landlocked central European countries don’t have much choice. The Czech Republic earlier this year became independent from Russian deliveries.
Major Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said early on Friday that Ukraine had again hit the pumping station at Unecha.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto posted on Facebook on Friday that due to the latest attack, oil pipeline deliveries would be halted for at least five days.
Ukraine harms Hungary and Slovakia with these attacks on the Druzhba pipeline, not Russia, Szijjarto said, adding that the oil pipeline plays a key role in ensuring Hungary’s energy security.
The Druzhba pipeline carries Russian crude to Central Europe. The pipeline is a key artery of oil supply from Russia to Europe, with two branches – a northern one via Belarus that supplies Belarus, Poland, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania, and a southern one passing through Ukraine and sending oil to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia.
Russian crude oil flows via pipeline are not subject to sanctions or embargoes, as landlocked central European countries don’t have much choice.
While the Czech Republic earlier this year became independent from Russian deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, for the first time ever, Hungary and Slovakia have continued to rely on the Soviet-era infrastructure for most of their crude oil supply.
The latest attack is the second hit on the Druzhba pipeline this week, after oil flows were halted at the beginning of the week, following a Ukrainian attack. Oil deliveries to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline were restored on Wednesday, but they were suspended again on Friday.
Hungary continues to blame Ukraine for the attacks on what it says is its energy security, while Hungary and Slovakia called on the European Commission to uphold its energy security promises to protect critical energy infrastructure.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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Ukraine’s attack halts Russia’s oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia
Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia could be suspended for at least five days. The European Union is seeking to phase out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027. The two countries have also opposed to sanctions against Russia that the EU says are needed to push Moscow towards a peace deal. The strike on Thursday night marked the second time this week that Russian oil supplies have been cut to the two countries.
The European Union reduced energy supplies from Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and is seeking to phase out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
EU members Slovakia and Hungary are opposed to the phase-out, saying their economies depend on the Russian supplies. The two countries have also opposed to sanctions against Russia that Ukraine says are vital to push Moscow towards a viable peace.
The Hungarian and Slovak governments wrote to Europe’s executive Commission on Friday saying that the latest Ukrainian attack could leave them without Russian oil imports for at least five days, urging it to guarantee the security of supplies.
The Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus and Ukraine, ships oil from Kazakhstan to Germany via Poland, as well as from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia. Germany said its supplies of Kazakh oil were unaffected by the latest strike.
Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure over the past few weeks despite a push by U.S. President Donald Trump to reach a deal to end the conflict, which is now in its fourth year.
The Ukrainian strike on Thursday night marked the second time this week that Russian oil supplies have been cut to Hungary and Slovakia, after a halt on Monday and Tuesday.