Strike on Druzhba oil pipeline has no impact on Hungary or Slovakia, says EU Commission
Illustrative photo: Hungary is highly dependent on Russian oil (Getty Images)
The attack by Ukrainian drones on the Druzhba oil pipeline did not affect oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia in any way. It also posed no threat to the EU’s energy security, despite complaints from Budapest, stated European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrnčířová.
Despite Hungary’s claims of a suspension of oil supplies, the European Commission said this was not the case. Moreover, the EU stated it had no information on who exactly attacked the Druzhba pipeline pumping station in Russia.
Hrnčířová added that the Commission was in contact with Hungarian and Slovak authorities and stressed that the suspension did not affect supply security, which remained a top priority for the European Commission.
On the night of August 13, Ukrainian kamikaze drones struck and disabled an oil pumping station of the Transneft Druzhba pipeline in the city of Unecha, Bryansk region, Russia. On the night of August 18, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces hit the Nikolskoye pumping station in the Tambov region.
Due to the drone strikes, the Druzhba oil pipeline ceased operations indefinitely. This was confirmed by the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi.
Following this, Hungary reacted with outrage. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó claimed that the country had been left without Russian oil after the strike on the pumping station in Bryansk. Budapest also once again threatened to stop selling electricity to Ukraine.
