Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the damaged Druzhba pipeline will be restored by the end of April, potentially allowing Russian oil flows to Eastern Europe to resume after months of disruption.
Key highlights
- Druzhba pipeline to restart by end-April, says Zelenskiy
- Flows halted after Russian drone strike in January
- Hungary, Slovakia face prolonged supply disruption
- Kyiv denies accusations of delaying repairs
What happened
Zelenskiy said in a televised interview that the pipeline “will be ready to operate by the end of April,” reiterating a timeline he had also cited earlier this month. It was not immediately clear when the interview was recorded.
Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz declined to comment on the restart timeline.
Why this matters
The outage has cut off key oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, increasing pressure on regional energy markets already strained by geopolitical tensions.
A restart could ease supply concerns and stabilise fuel flows across Eastern Europe.
Official statements
Hungary’s election winner Peter Magyar urged Kyiv to reopen the pipeline as soon as it is operational and called for Russia to resume shipments.
Outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Slovak government have accused Ukraine of delaying repairs, allegations Kyiv has denied.
Background & context
Flows through the Druzhba pipeline were halted in late January after a Russian drone strike damaged infrastructure in western Ukraine.
The pipeline is one of the main routes for transporting Russian crude oil to Eastern Europe.
What happens next
If repairs are completed on schedule, oil flows could resume by early May, though timelines remain subject to technical and geopolitical developments.
FAQs
Q1. What is the Druzhba oil pipeline?
The Druzhba oil pipeline is one of the world’s longest oil pipelines, transporting Russian crude to several Eastern and Central European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia.
Q2. Why was the Druzhba pipeline disrupted?
The pipeline was damaged by a Russian drone strike in western Ukraine earlier this year, halting oil flows to parts of Eastern Europe.
Q3. When will Druzhba pipeline flows resume?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the pipeline is expected to be operational again by the end of April.
Q4. Which countries are affected by the shutdown?
Countries such as Hungary and Slovakia have been most impacted, as they rely heavily on Russian oil supplied via the pipeline.
5. Why is restoring the pipeline important?
Resuming flows is critical for regional energy security, stabilising fuel supply, and easing tensions between Ukraine and EU countries dependent on Russian oil.
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