Russia says Ukraine attacks on Druzhba pipeline threaten Europe’s energy security

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday (26 February) accused Ukraine of threatening Europe’s energy security by halting oil flows through the Druzhba oil pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.

Speaking in Moscow, Zakharova said, “No doubt, these actions threaten the energy security of these countries and of the European continent as a whole.”

She stated that the alleged attacks had “understandably provoked outrage” in Hungary and Slovakia, describing them as “a direct infringement on their sovereignty”.

“In this context, the lack of an appropriate response from European institutions which are supposed to protect the interests of their member states, and the absence of any reaction to the Ukrainian attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline are hardly surprising,” she added.

“Nobody is surprised. They are used to it. Everyone knows that no matter what the Kyiv regime does, no one in Brussels will condemn it. And why? Because whose money is the Kyiv regime using to do all this? Brussels’ money,” Zakharova concluded.

• Zelenskyy urges Hungarian prime minister to block support to Russia instead of Ukraine
• Ukraine signals readiness for fast-track EU membership as EU pledges €200bn support
• Ukraine war in numbers: Financial and military sustainment

Kyiv's stance

Ukraine says the pipeline was damaged by Russian strikes on 27 January, and repairs have not yet been completed because reconstruction work has been made difficult by ongoing Russian attacks.

Kyiv has told the European Commission and EU officials that the damage included destruction of pipeline equipment and infrastructure that cannot be quickly fixed, and Ukraine has proposed alternative routes such as transporting non-Russian crude via the Odesa-Brody pipeline while Druzhba is under repair.

The European Commission has noted that work is ongoing but subject to the security situation and has asked Ukraine to accelerate repairs, though there is no clear timeline for resumption of full service.

Separately, a Ukrainian security official said on 23 February that Kyiv had used drones to strike a key Russian pumping station serving the Druzhba pipeline.

• Hungary threatens to block EU Russia sanctions package over pipeline dispute

Hungary this week blocked new EU sanctions on Russia and an EU loan package for Ukraine in response to the stoppage.

Tags

Politics News Russia Ukraine Hungary energy security Maria Zakharova Russian Foreign Ministry Druzhba pipeline