Ukraine has made significant progress in restoring the damaged Druzhba pipeline and plans to complete its repairs in the springPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyi said in connection with the dispute with Hungary and Slovakia over interrupted deliveries of Russian oil. This was reported by the Reuters agency, which, citing a source from the industry, said that the most likely date for the completion of the works is April.
- Ukraine has made significant progress in restoring the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline in the western part.
- Repairs to the pipeline after the Russian drone attack are expected to be completed around April.
- Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of deliberately delaying the repair of a vital oil pipeline.
- The interruption of Russian oil supplies triggered a diplomatic conflict between Kyiv and Budapest.
- Viktor Orbán claims that Ukraine damaged the oil pipeline on purpose before the Hungarian elections.
Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia via Druzhba were interrupted at the end of January 2026 after a Russian drone damaged oil pipeline infrastructure in western Ukraine. Budapest and Bratislava, which after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 maintain close political relations with Moscow and links in the field of energyaccuse Kyiv of delaying repairs. Ukraine rejects these claims, Reuters wrote.
“We’ll finish the repair, because that’s the deal. I told them we’d finish it this spring. There’s already a lot done… Of course, destroyed reservoirs can’t be repaired quickly.” said Zelensky in an interview with the media. The interruption of Russian oil supplies has sharpened the dispute between Kyiv and Budapest. Hungary subsequently blocked the release of the already approved 90 billion European Union loan for Ukraine as well as the 20th package of sanctions, while Budapest accused Kyiv of deliberately blocking the flow of oil.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared that Ukraine deliberately damaged the oil pipeline in order to weaken his position before the parliamentary elections. which will take place in Hungary this Sunday, April 12. This interpretation was indirectly supported by US Vice President JD Vance, who visited Budapest this week.
