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Ukraine Pushes Back on Hungary and Slovakia Over Druzhba Halt and Cites Russian Drone Strike
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![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
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Ukraine’s foreign ministry reacted to criticism from Hungary and Slovakia over disrupted oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline.
The halt was caused by a Russian strike on key infrastructure near the western Ukrainian town of Brody on January 27, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on February 18.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, said the attack damaged “critical equipment” and made pumping impossible, adding that Hungary was informed of the cause the same day.
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He described Budapest’s behavior as illogical, saying Hungary had not publicly made a clear attribution that Russia struck the pipeline while statements blaming Ukraine were now being voiced.
Tykhyi said Russia systematically targets Ukraine’s oil and gas infrastructure, citing ministry figures showing 225 attacks on state energy company Naftogaz facilities in 2025 and saying Russia used 1,399 missiles and attack drones against Naftogaz oil and gas infrastructure last year.
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He urged the media to rely on “real quotes” from the European Commission spokesperson, and said the Commission’s position was that the disruption was caused by a Russian drone attack.
Ukraine remained a reliable transit country meeting obligations under existing contracts and the EU’s sanctions policy toward Russia.
He added that EU exemptions that allow Hungary and Slovakia to keep importing Russian pipeline oil were temporary and meant to give the two countries time to reduce dependence, adding that alternatives were available, including the Adria pipeline, and that there were no technical grounds for continued reliance on Russian oil.
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Tykhyi used a sharp metaphor to describe efforts to keep importing Russian crude, calling it an “oil needle” and saying the desire to keep buying Russian oil “resembles drug addiction,” linking the stance to the policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Ukraine’s foreign minister criticized Hungary’s stance amid the Druzhba disruption and invoked the 1956 Budapest uprising in a pointed message about Hungary’s approach to Russia.
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
