Szijjarto comments on Russian crude flows via Druzhba; oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia may resume Aug. 28: Szijjarto

Szijjarto comments on Russian crude flows via Druzhba; oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia may resume Aug. 28: Szijjarto

Hungary's Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, has commented on the recent disruptions in Russian crude oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline, which supply Hungary and Slovakia. In a statement, Szijjártó described the attacks on the pipeline as "another strike on Hungary’s energy security" and "another attempt to drag us into the war."

The Druzhba pipeline, one of the world's longest oil pipelines, has been a focal point in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Recent drone attacks by Ukrainian forces have targeted critical sections of the pipeline, leading to temporary halts in oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia. The most recent incident occurred on August 18, when Ukrainian drones hit a transformer station in Russia's Tambov region, disrupting oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia.

In response to the attacks, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó condemned the assault on energy security. However, oil supplies resumed shortly thereafter, with Hungarian officials expressing gratitude for the swift restoration efforts by Russian technicians.

The Hungarian oil company MOL has stated that crude oil shipments via the Druzhba pipeline could resume as soon as August 27 or 28. While the pipeline from Russia might not run at full capacity, MOL's executive chairman Zsolt Hernadi has stated that the company is able to supply its refineries from operational reserves but may have to fall back on strategic reserves if necessary.

Hernadi also mentioned that if MOL had to increase imports via the Adriatic pipeline, it would still import Russian oil due to the exemption from sanctions granted to Hungary and Slovakia. However, he expressed uncertainty about the ability to import sufficient volumes of crude via the Adriatic pipeline to run both of MOL's refineries at full capacity if shipments via Druzhba were halted entirely.

If Druzhba oil flows do not resume by September 1, Slovakia will need to tap its strategic reserves, which could cut Hungary's fuel imports by 20% while also affecting Ukraine. According to Hernadi, "one seventh of Ukraine's diesel needs are supplied by the refinery in Slovakia through Hungary, and this will immediately stop."

The ongoing conflict and disruptions in energy infrastructure have significant implications for the European energy market. The EU has banned most Russian oil imports following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine but has exempted the Druzhba pipeline. However, the EU is seeking to phase out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.

References:
[1] https://caliber.az/en/post/hungary-halts-russian-oil-deliveries-after-drone-strikes-on-druzhba-pipeline
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L8N3UJ0KA:0-head-of-hungary-s-mol-says-druzhba-oil-flows-could-resume-august-27-or-28/
[3] https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/08/22/ukrainian-attacks-halt-russian-oil-flows-to-hungary-for-third-time-in-2-weeks-a90321
[4] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/ukraine-strikes-russian-oil-facility-flows-to-hungary-slovakia-halted/articleshow/123460504.cms