Russia has confirmed the suspension of Kazakh oil shipments to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline, citing technical reasons, in a move that could disrupt refinery supplies in eastern Germany.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the disruption was due to technical issues but stressed that Kazakhstan’s export interests would be safeguarded through alternative routes.
Kazakhstan exports around 80 million tonnes of oil annually, with approximately 3 million tonnes typically transported via the Druzhba pipeline. In 2025, that volume stood at 2.1 million tonnes.
Kazakh crude plays a notable role in Germany’s energy mix, supplying an estimated 20–30% of demand at the Schwedt refinery, making the suspension potentially significant for regional supply stability.
The Druzhba pipeline, one of the world’s largest oil transport networks, has become increasingly politicised since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent reduction of Russian energy flows to Europe.
Separately, Slovakia confirmed that oil deliveries via the pipeline had resumed after a prolonged disruption. The Slovak Economy Ministry said crude began flowing again at 2 a.m. local time on Thursday, marking the end of a months-long outage.
Oil transit through the Ukrainian section of the pipeline restarted on Wednesday, a development that prompted Hungary to lift its veto on a €90 billion European Union loan package deemed critical for Ukraine.
Ukraine had previously said the halt in flows was necessary to carry out repairs, while Hungary and Slovakia accused Kyiv of delaying the process.
Despite broader EU efforts to phase out Russian energy imports, both Hungary and Slovakia remain reliant on Russian oil and gas and continue to seek ways to maintain supplies.
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The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
UN human rights experts comprising a group including Special Rapporteurs and independent experts who are part of the UN Human Rights Council, have criticised French authorities over their handling of nationwide student protests.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to boost trade, strengthen transport links between Asia and Europe and resolve a longstanding border dispute, as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
People travelling between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan could soon be able to pay for purchases using their usual banking apps. Central banks from the five countries are working on linking their national payment systems.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
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