Ukraine Strike on Russian Facility Halts Druzhba Oil Flows to Hungary, Slovakia

Ukraine’s armed forces carried out a strike overnight on the “Nikolske” oil pumping station in Russia’s Tambov region, setting off a fire and forcing a shutdown of the Druzhba pipeline, a major route supplying Russian crude to Central Europe.

The Gaze reports this, referring to Ukraine’s General Staff.

The attack was conducted by its drone units in coordination with other defense forces. The statement described the facility as part of Russia’s economic infrastructure that directly supports its military operations. 

“The Defense Forces of Ukraine are systematically working to reduce Russia’s war-economic potential with the goal of ending its armed aggression,” the General Staff said.

The suspension disrupted deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia, both heavily reliant on the Druzhba pipeline for crude imports. 

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto confirmed the halt, condemning what he called an “unacceptable” blow to Hungary’s energy security. 

He said Russian officials had assured him that specialists were working to restore the damaged transformer station, though it remained unclear when flows would resume.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, without confirming responsibility, noted that Hungary “can now send its complaints to Moscow, not Kyiv,” stressing that Russia started and continues the war. He added that Hungary had long been warned about the risks of depending on Russian supplies.

The Druzhba pipeline, built in the Soviet era, carries Russian Urals crude through Belarus and Ukraine into Central Europe. Last year, Russia shipped nearly 4.8 million tons of oil to Hungary through the line.