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Ukraine Targets Russia’s Druzhba Pipeline with Drones, Disrupting Major Oil Flow to Europe
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The Druzhba oil pipeline, one of Russia’s main routes for crude deliveries to Europe, has been forced to suspend operations following Ukrainian drone strikes.
According to the Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi (“Madyar”), the attack targeted the Nikolskoye oil pumping station in Russia’s Tambov region.
He confirmed that the station was destroyed by the 14th Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces, resulting in a complete shutdown of oil transport through the pipeline.
Ukraine’s General Staff also reported that units of the Unmanned Systems Forces, operating in coordination with other elements of the Defense Forces, struck the pumping station overnight on August 18. The attack caused a fire at the facility, leading to the suspension of oil flows through Druzhba.
The Nikolskoye station is part of Russia’s economic infrastructure and is used to support occupying forces.
The Druzhba pipeline, with a total capacity of up to 2 million barrels per day, extends nearly 9,000 kilometers and connects Russian oil fields to European markets. Its northern branch runs through Belarus and Poland to Germany, while the southern branch crosses Ukraine to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.
Supplies to Germany ended in early 2023 after European Union sanctions, but flows to Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic continued.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó criticized Ukraine over the attack, stating it halted crude deliveries to Hungary.
In response, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha noted that Russia initiated the war and refuses to stop it, while Hungary has chosen to maintain reliance on Russian oil despite earlier warnings.
Earlier, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure have cut an estimated $74 billion from Moscow’s revenues, with nearly 80% of the targets being refineries, storage sites, and pumping stations.
