Budapest (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Hungary’s Russian crude oil supplies were interrupted after Ukraine targeted a transformer station on the Druzhba pipeline. The pipeline, which passes through Belarus and Ukraine to reach Hungary and Slovakia, was affected, according to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Monday.
Unlike many other EU nations, Hungary has maintained its dependence on Russian energy following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The country primarily imports its crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
Hungarian Foreign Minister stated that he discussed with Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin, who informed him that experts are working to restore the transformer station. Still, it is uncertain when supplies will restart.
“Ukraine has once again attacked the oil pipeline leading to Hungary, cutting off supplies. This latest strike against our energy security is outrageous and unacceptable!”
Szijjarto wrote.
How did Ukraine respond to Hungary’s accusation of an attack?
Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, neither verified nor repudiated the report of the strike, but he noted on X that Hungary “can now send complaints” to Russia, not Ukraine.
“It is Russia, not Ukraine, that began this war and refuses to end it. Hungary has been told for years that Moscow is an unreliable partner. Despite this, Hungary has made every effort to maintain its reliance on Russia,”
Sybiha said.
What is Hungary’s stance on EU sanctions and Ukraine’s bid?
Hungary was the only European nation that did not support Ukraine’s right to determine its own future in a joint statement by EU countries before Friday’s Alaska summit involving US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The country also recently declined the European Commission’s proposed budget, criticising it for allocating nearly 20% of resources to Ukraine and military expenses. It also dismissed the idea of a “war budget.’ Additionally, Hungary has voiced opposition to the EU’s sanctions on Russia and Ukraine’s membership bid.
How has Russia accused Ukraine of targeting energy pipelines?
Russia has accused Ukraine of trying to attack critical Russian gas pipeline infrastructure that serves Europe. In January 2025, Russia claimed it had halted nine Ukrainian drones trying to attack the TurkStream gas pipeline infrastructure in southern Russia. TurkStream is the pipeline that takes Russian gas to Turkey, which is subsequently transported to Europe.
Moreover, in September 2022, the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines (located in the Baltic Sea to transport gas from Russia to Germany) sustained sabotage from underwater explosions that compromised both systems’ operations.
