Hungary and Slovakia get first oil shipments after Druzhba restart
Photo: Hungary and Slovakia receive first batches of oil via the Druzhba pipeline (Getty Images)
Hungary and Slovakia, on April 23, received the first shipments of Russian crude oil via the repaired Druzhba pipeline, according to MOL Group.
The company said it received the first batches of crude at pumping stations in Fényeslitke and Budkovce.
“Crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline system have thus resumed to Hungary and Slovakia after a hiatus of nearly three months,” the statement said.
Druzhba pipeline repairs
It is worth recalling that in January, a Russian drone damaged a section of the pipeline in western Ukraine, which led to the suspension of oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia.
Budapest and Bratislava accused Kyiv of delaying repairs, but the Ukrainian side denied these claims.
As a result, Hungary and Slovakia blocked a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine and a new package of sanctions against Russia.
The unblocking of the loan and sanctions became possible only after oil supplies were restored.
On April 21, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the section of the pipeline damaged by Russian shelling had been repaired and was ready for operation.
Yesterday, Ukrtransnafta confirmed the completion of repair work on the Ukrainian section of Druzhba and the lifting of force majeure.
The company announced its readiness to resume crude oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia.
Later, it became known that Ukraine had resumed pumping oil through the pipeline.
Hungary also said that transit via Druzhba had resumed after a long pause, with the first volumes expected shortly. Overnight, supplies were also restored to Slovakia.
It should be added that today the European Union approved a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine and a new package of sanctions against Russia.
