Full Breakdown
Russian Oil Flow to Hungary and Slovakia Restored via Druzhba Pipeline
6/4/2026, 10:55:14 PM
Restoration of Oil Deliveries
In May 2024, Russian crude shipments to Hungary and Slovakia resumed at a stable rate of approximately 165,000 barrels per day (bpd) through the Druzhba pipeline, marking the first full month of uninterrupted deliveries since the route was re-opened on 23 April. The flow follows a months-long outage that limited April shipments to about 55,000 bpd.
Background and Context
The Druzhba pipeline, whose southern leg traverses Ukraine, remains the only sanctioned-exempt conduit for Russian oil to the European Union. A segment in the Lviv-region town of Brody was struck in late January, an incident Ukraine attributes to a Russian air strike. The damage halted the pipeline for several weeks, prompting heightened diplomatic tension among Moscow, Kyiv, Budapest, and Bratislava.
Timeline of Key Events
- Late January 2024 – Russian missile strike damages Brody segment; Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reports “critical equipment” destroyed.
- 21 April 2024 – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces completion of repair work on the damaged section.
- 23 April 2024 – Hungary and Slovakia resume crude imports via Druzhba.
- May 2024 – Pipeline delivers 165,000 bpd, the first full month of normalised flow.
Data and Statistics
- May 2024 deliveries: 165,000 bpd (both countries combined).
- April 2024 deliveries: 55,000 bpd (limited to one operational week).
- Pre-suspension levels: 200,000–235,000 bpd, indicating current volumes remain below historic averages.
- Diversification: Hungarian oil group MOL reported procurement of ten distinct crude grades in 2024 to reduce reliance on Russian supplies.
Official Statements & Responses
MOL emphasized that both the eastern and southern pipeline corridors are operating without disruption and that the company is assessing additional connections, including a potential route through Odesa. President Zelenskyy linked the repair completion to the broader European support package for Ukraine, noting that the restored technical conditions do not guarantee immunity from future attacks. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi highlighted the damage to “critical equipment” and criticized Budapest for not publicly attributing the outage to Russia while suggesting Ukrainian responsibility.
Criticism & Opposition
Hungary and Slovakia initially accused Kyiv of deliberately obstructing oil shipments, a charge Ukraine denied, asserting that the halt was solely for repairs. Tykhyi rebuked Budapest’s stance as inconsistent, pointing to the lack of acknowledgment of Russian responsibility for the January strike.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree on the May delivery figure of 165,000 bpd, yet the pre-suspension range (200,000–235,000 bpd) varies across reports, leaving the exact baseline unclear. Additionally, while Ukraine attributes the January damage to a Russian air strike, Hungarian officials have not formally confirmed this attribution.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Fortunately, both the eastern and southern crude oil pipelines are currently operating without disruption, and we are exploring additional pipeline connections, such as the possibility of using the route through Odesa in the future,” — MOL Group
- “We connect this with the unblocking of the European support package for Ukraine, which has already been approved by the European Council,” — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- “Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said the attack damaged “critical equipment,” making oil pumping impossible.” — Heorhii Tykhyi, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson
What’s Next
MOL’s diversification strategy and the prospective Odesa link suggest continued efforts to secure alternative supply routes. Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine have signaled the possibility of further infrastructure attacks, leaving the long-term stability of the Druzhba corridor uncertain. Monitoring of pipeline integrity and diplomatic negotiations will shape future oil flows to Central Europe.
