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Shmyhal Says Druzhba Pipeline Inoperable Despite Orbán’s Claims
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Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal stated that the Druzhba oil pipeline is inoperable despite claims from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that satellite imagery shows the facility to be functional.
Shmyhal clarified that while the exterior may appear intact, a Russian drone strike on the Brody pumping station caused critical internal damage, including the destruction of sensors by oil that reached a boiling state, according to LIGA.net on March 3.
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Shmyhal explained that a Russian drone hit one of Europe’s largest reservoirs, which has a total capacity of 75,000 cubic meters. At the time of the attack, the tank contained 25,000 cubic meters of oil.
To prevent a major environmental disaster while the oil was burning, workers pumped some of the fluid into the pipeline system. Shmyhal noted, “The oil was actually in a boiling state.”
The high temperatures caused significant damage to the internal components of the pipeline, including various sensors and management equipment. While this damage is not visible from the outside or via satellite, it requires extensive technical work to fix.
Currently, the national company Naftogaz is finishing an assessment of the defects to determine the budget and timeline needed for repairs.
This technical update follows a public letter from Viktor Orbán to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the letter, the Hungarian leader called for the immediate restoration of oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline, claiming its closure threatens Hungary’s energy stability. Orbán also made several political claims, alleging that there have been long-term efforts to involve Hungary in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In his letter, Orbán stated, “In recent days, you have blocked the Druzhba oil pipeline, which is of decisive importance for the energy supply of Hungary. Your actions contradict the interests of Hungary and put at risk the reliable and affordable energy supply of Hungarian families.”
He concluded his message by saying, “I call on you to immediately open the Druzhba oil pipeline and refrain from further attacks on the energy security of Hungary.”
Earlier, a Russian air strike in late January damaged the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which caused a temporary halt in crude supplies to Hungary and Slovakia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha released photos of the infrastructure on fire following the January 27 attack to provide transparency regarding the technical cause of the disruption.
While Slovakia confirmed that deliveries were suspended, officials noted that strategic reserves remained sufficient for 90 days, even as combined flows to the region dropped significantly compared to previous years.
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