Budapest Insists: Russian Oil Transit Has Not Been Halted
Hungary has announced that the flow of Russian crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline continues without interruption, despite a recent strike on a section of the infrastructure inside Russia. The incident involved an explosion that damaged part of the pipeline, yet Budapest emphasizes that supply to the country—and further into Central Europe—has not been disrupted.
According to MOL Nyrt, Hungary’s main oil importer, the volumes of crude arriving through the pipeline remain unchanged. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said he received this confirmation “directly from MOL’s leadership,” and stated on Facebook that the pipeline is operating “without disruption, despite the Ukrainian attack.”
What Is Known About the Incident
Sources within Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence said that remotely detonated explosives and additional flammable mixtures were used on the affected pipeline segment. They reported that the damaged section is near the settlement of Kazynski Vysilky, roughly 700 kilometers from the Russian-Belarusian border. The sources did not explicitly claim that Ukraine carried out the operation.
According to Bloomberg, the layout of the infrastructure in the area plays a key role: maps reviewed by the agency show two parallel trunk lines at the site, which theoretically allows Russia to reroute flows and maintain export routes even if one branch is damaged.
Possible Consequences for the European Market
The Druzhba pipeline remains one of the few major conduits through which Russian oil still reaches Europe, despite extensive sanctions. Several countries—Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic—continue to receive oil via exceptions written into the EU’s sanctions framework.
Analysts note that the existence of a parallel branch makes the system more resilient, but a growing number of attacks on energy infrastructure inside Russia raises concerns about the stability of supplies. As Bloomberg points out, the distance from the incident site to the Hungarian border is around 1,500 kilometers, giving pipeline operators “some room for maneuver” if rerouting becomes necessary.
Russian Operator Yet to Comment
The Russian pipeline operator Transneft, which oversees the country’s trunk oil network, has not yet issued a comment on the damage. No official information has been released about the scale of destruction or the expected repair time.
What This Means for the Region
Maintaining uninterrupted flows through the Druzhba pipeline is crucial for the energy security of Central Europe. Hungary has repeatedly stressed that its ability to quickly replace pipeline-delivered oil with alternative routes is limited. The confirmation that transit continues therefore reduces the likelihood of short-term supply disruptions.
At the same time, the incident once again highlights the vulnerability of Russia’s energy infrastructure deep inside its territory. According to Bloomberg, the strike underscores both the growing risks to transport systems and their importance for sustaining the remaining oil exports to the EU.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Bloomberg. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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