Oil flows resume to Hungary and Slovakia via Druzhba pipeline

Oil is once again flowing to Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, officials from both countries said late on Tuesday, after a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil pumping station in Russia's Tambov region halted supplies.

Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure, a key conduit for generating money for Kremlin's war efforts, with oil and gas sales accounting for a quarter of Russia's total state budget proceeds.

Unlike most other European Union countries, Slovakia and neighbouring Hungary have kept up their dependence on Russian energy and get most of their crude through the Druzhba pipeline.

"The flow of oil to Slovakia is currently standard," Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said in a statement.

"In the coming days, we will have clearer information about whether there will be any adjustments to the supply schedule for this month ... However, I believe that given the rapid resumption of flow through the Druzhba pipeline, the impact will be minimal."

Oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary also resumed, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a statement.

"I have just thanked Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin for the swift rectification of the damages caused by the attack," Szijjarto wrote in a Facebook post.

Hungarian oil company MOL MOLB.BU said in an emailed statement that fuel production was not disrupted during the temporary shutdown.

Oil flows via the Soviet-built Druzhba pipeline were also briefly suspended in March following a Ukrainian attack on a metering station.

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