Pipeline politics: Oil, war and EU disunity over Druzhba damage

In late January, oil stopped flowing through the Druzhba pipeline. Since the 1960s, the route has supplied Slovakia and Hungary with Russian crude. Ukraine says Russian drone strikes damaged the line, while Russia blamed Ukrainian action. 

Officials in Kyiv say repairs are underway, but leaders in Bratislava and Budapest question the delay – and a supply disruption has become a diplomatic standoff.

"It's definitely more than an energy issue – it's a geopolitical issue," said Miroslav Wlachovsky, Slovakia's former foreign minister. "And it's an issue of solidarity, and the cohesion of the European Union."

In response, Slovakia halted emergency electricity exports to Ukraine. Hungary blocked new European Union sanctions on Russia and a support package for Kyiv worth more than $100 million.

Oil sanction exemption 

Throughout the Ukraine conflict, EU and US exemptions allowed Slovakia and Hungary to keep importing Russian oil, while much of Europe cut back.

"When I was a minister I remember how we asked once again to prolong the exemption and I didn't feel very happy about this, but it was technically necessary at the time," Wlachovsky said.

Some analysts argue other options existed.

"Relying on a single pipeline which crosses a war zone where political and economic tensions between the Russians and Ukrainians are so high, from a supply security point of view, is ridiculous," said Dr. András György Deák, an energy researcher at the University of Public Service, Jean-Luc Art Institute.

Deák said Hungary and Slovakia could have reduced reliance on Russian oil by shifting to the Adriatic pipeline which links Central Europe to seaborne crude.

"The Adriatic pipeline starts at the Adriatic Sea in Croatia and comes inland through Hungary and Slovakia," Deák said.

Both governments say a shift is complex. Russian oil is cheaper, and refineries were built to process it. Shipments through the Adriatic can also take longer.

Strategic reserves

For now, both countries are tapping into their strategic reserves to stabilize the supply. Each holds about 90 days of oil in reserve. Meanwhile, experts say refineries are changing their equipment to process non-Russian crude.

"To get the most use out of all refineries, which are optimized for Russian oil, we have to mix these blends, and we need mixture units, other kinds of storage," Deák said.

Ukraine says repairs continue, while Slovakia, which says there is no fuel shortage, has asked the European Commission to inspect the pipeline and assess the damage. 

In Bratislava, political tensions are rising, as opposition leaders accuse Prime Minister Robert Fico of deepening the crisis by halting power exports, while the government says it is defending national energy security.

"I think it's unfortunate because in the end, we will always be neighbors to Ukraine," Wlachovsky said.