Ukrainian Strike on Russian Substation Halts Oil Flow to Hungary

The flow of Russian oil to Hungary has been suspended following a Ukrainian attack on a transformer station of the Druzhba pipeline, the Hungarian Foreign Minister announced.

Hungary imports most of its oil via the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian oil through Belarus and Ukraine.

Péter Szijjártó stated that he spoke with Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin, who said it was unclear when the flow would be restored.

Prior to the disruption, the flow had been temporarily interrupted last week after the Ukrainian military announced that drones had struck the Unyecha refinery station in Russia's Bryansk region on August 13.

Unlike other EU countries, Hungary has maintained close political and business ties with Russia and its energy dependence on Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Szijjártó had stated last year that the Druzhba pipeline would remain the main channel for oil imports for the country.