Russian oil flow to Slovakia via Druzhba pipeline resumes

Published on 23/04/2026 - 9:26 GMT+2

The travel of Russian lipid to Slovakia done the Druzhba pipeline that crosses Ukraine has resumed, Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková said connected Thursday morning.

"The Economy Ministry informs that ​today astatine 2 americium the reception ⁠of lipid to Slovakia done the Druzhba ​pipeline was resumed," Saková said successful a ministry statement.

This confirmation puts an extremity to a months-long standoff betwixt Ukraine, the EU and Hungary and Slovakia erstwhile the transit of Russian inexpensive lipid stopped aft a Russian onslaught connected Ukraine’s vigor infrastructure astatine the extremity of January.

The confirmation is acceptable to unblock the €90-billion indebtedness for Ukraine, which has been vetoed by Hungary and Slovakia since February, contempt being initially agreed upon successful December.

The disbursement is scheduled to statesman betwixt precocious May and aboriginal June.

Hungary’s vigor elephantine MOL said connected Wednesday it was informed by the relation of the Ukrainian conception of the pipeline, Ukrtransnafta, that "the receipt of crude lipid from Belarus via the Druzhba pipeline strategy began successful Ukraine astatine noon today."

Druzhba pipeline, which brings inexpensive Russian crude to Slovakia and Hungary, went offline successful precocious January aft being damaged successful a Russian drone attack.

Budapest and Bratislava accused Kyiv of deliberately withholding transit. Ukraine said the ​halt was ​forced by the request to repair the pipeline.