Hungary Says Russian Oil Flows via Druzhba Pipeline Might Resume Next Week

The potential restart follows months of disruption after a drone strike and ongoing disputes between Kyiv and EU states over repairs. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied A photo taken on May 5, 2022 shows the receiver station of the Druzhba pipeline of petroleum between Hungary and Russia with a memorial plate of its construction at the Duna (Danube) Refinery of Hungarian MOL Company located near the town of Szazhalombatta, about 30 km (19 miles) south of Budapest. (Photo by ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, said Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline could resume as early as next week after months of disruption. Magyar said the information came from Zsolt Hernadi, head of Hungarian oil group MOL, who is expected to travel to Russia to discuss future supplies, according to Bloomberg and Reuters . Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “They will need to discuss whether Hungary can expect seamless oil supply,” Magyar said. The Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil via Ukraine to Central Europe, has been offline since January after being damaged in what Kyiv said was a Russian drone strike. The disruption has fueled tensions between Ukraine and EU member states Hungary and Slovakia, both of which remain heavily reliant on Russian oil. Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Kyiv of delaying repairs for political reasons , a claim denied by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky said earlier this week that the pipeline could be operational again by the end of April. Magyar also signaled that Orban may lift his veto on a €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan package for Ukraine once oil flows are restored. Hungary and Slovakia have continued to rely on Russian crude despite EU efforts to reduce imports following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. During the disruption, Hungarian refiner MOL and its Slovak subsidiary Slovnaft increased reliance on alternative supplies via the Adriatic pipeline from Croatia, according to Reuters. Other Topics of Interest SBU Accuses Russian Officer of Recruiting Minor to Guide Strike on Power Plant Ukraine’s security service said a Russian intelligence officer recruited a 17-year-old to help target a thermal power plant in western Ukraine. Hungary has also begun withdrawing troops previously deployed to guard critical energy infrastructure , local outlet HVG reported on Wednesday, after authorities said improved security measures reduced the need for military protection. Around 600 soldiers had been stationed at facilities, including oil and gas infrastructure, following concerns raised earlier this year over potential threats to energy transit routes, including the Druzhba pipeline. The troop withdrawal follows Hungary’s recent change in government , with Magyar signaling a more pro-EU stance, though future support for Kyiv remains uncertain as Magyar also ruled out support for Ukraine’s accelerated EU accession. Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.