Ukraine held a special briefing for diplomats from 31 foreign states to inform them about the consequences of recent Russian attacks on the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure. The event was organized by Naftogaz together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and among the participants were representatives from G7 countries and European partners.
This is reported by Finway
Disclosure of Attack Evidence and Countries’ Reactions
During the briefing, the Ukrainian side presented detailed materials regarding the nature of the strike and its consequences, including photo and video evidence from the scene. However, the head of the Naftogaz board, Serhiy Koretsky, did not specify whether diplomats from Slovakia and Hungary were present at the event, although the company later confirmed their participation.
“Restoring such infrastructure is a complex technological process that requires time, specialized equipment, and work under conditions of constant threats of repeated Russian strikes,” Koretsky wrote on Facebook.
According to Koretsky, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has carried out over 400 attacks on Naftogaz Group facilities. In just 2026, more than 30 shellings have already been recorded.
Discrepancies Surrounding the Condition of the Druzhba Pipeline
After the onset of large-scale aggression, the EU banned the import of Russian oil but made an exception for Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria due to these countries’ lack of sea access and dependence on transporting raw materials via the Druzhba pipeline. Subsequently, Austria was able to diversify its supplies.
The Druzhba pipeline transports Russian oil to Europe through Ukrainian territory, ensuring supplies, particularly to Hungary and Slovakia. Ukrainian officials emphasized that the pipeline was damaged as a result of Russian shelling at the end of January. Hungary and Slovakia, on their part, deny these claims. The Hungarian side refers to satellite data, which allegedly indicates that there are no technical or operational obstacles to restoring the pipeline’s operation.
On March 11, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Energy Gábor Csepek announced that a delegation from his country had traveled to Ukraine for negotiations regarding the restoration of the Druzhba’s operation and to assess its condition. According to Csepek, the main goal of the mission is to represent Hungary’s interests at the negotiating table and to achieve the reopening of the pipeline.