Despite Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian section of the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure in 2025, past interruptions were brief and flows resumed quickly. That changed on Jan. 27, 2026, when a Russian Shahed drone struck a pumping station in Brody, western Ukraine. The attack halted deliveries of Russian oil to Slovakia and Hungary via Ukraine.
The strike came during a tense election campaign in Hungary, where Orbán’s Fidesz party trails the opposition Tisza Party led by Péter Magyar by about 10 percentage points, according to local reporting. Relatively inexpensive Russian oil has long helped stabilize domestic fuel prices and has served as a key political asset for Orbán.
Budapest has blamed Kyiv, rather than Moscow, for the
suspension of oil supplies and has taken retaliatory steps, accusing Ukraine of
delaying repairs.
What happened on Jan. 27
The southern branch of the Druzhba oil pipeline has been under repairs for more than three weeks. According to sources cited by NV Business, a Russian Shahed-type kamikaze drone struck critical equipment at the Brody pumping station in Ukraine’s Lviv Oblast. A large fire followed and burned for several days. Some equipment was outright destroyed, and certain components are currently unavailable on the market.
The attack created a risk of depressurization in underground pipeline segments. There were no fuel storage tanks at the site; the strike targeted technological infrastructure, including high-pressure pumping units, automated control systems, power supply nodes, and dispatch systems.
Brody is a key hub of Ukraine’s Druzhba network and serves as a branching point for the southern line supplying Slovakia and Hungary.
Repair work continues. Sources told NV Business that the minimum timeline for restoration is about 10 more days, though the restart could be delayed by air raid alerts, further Russian strikes, the need to transport replacement equipment, and mandatory safety inspections.
According to Sky News, the European Commission has asked
Ukraine to provide a repair schedule for the facility. A source familiar with
the situation said Ukraine’s state oil and gas company Naftogaz, which includes
pipeline operator Ukrtransnafta, had not received such a request from the
Ukrainian government.
Hungary and Slovakia respond
On Feb. 18, Hungary announced it would suspend diesel fuel exports to Ukraine. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said supplies would not resume until oil once again flows through the Druzhba pipeline.
Slovakia also joined the pressure campaign. PM Robert Fico ordered a halt to diesel exports, including from the Slovnaft refinery, and raised the possibility of limiting electricity supplies to Ukraine. He noted that Slovakia provided twice as much electricity to Ukraine in January 2026 as during all of 2025 and suggested the sales could be reconsidered.
The electricity threat appears largely symbolic. Both Slovakia and Ukraine are integrated into the European Union’s ENTSO-E power grid, limiting Bratislava’s ability to act unilaterally.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry responded sharply. Spokesperson
Heorhii Tykhyi said Hungary has known from the first day that Russia carried
out the strike on the pipeline. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha previously
suggested Hungarian officials direct their concerns to Moscow, noting that
Budapest has had years to diversify oil supplies.
Impact on Ukraine’s fuel market
For Ukraine, the situation is far from critical. According to NaftoRynok data, about 11% of Ukraine’s diesel imports in January 2026 came via Hungary and Slovakia, up from 9.4% in 2025.
Serhii Kuyun, director of the A-95 Consulting Group, said diesel supplies from Hungary and Slovakia were interrupted last autumn without major consequences.
“Nothing extraordinary happened, we have alternatives,” he said.
According to ExPro data, Slovakia received the largest
volume of Russian oil transiting Ukraine in 2025, nearly 4.9 million tons, up
24% from 2024. Hungary imported about 4.35 million tons, down 8% YoY. Overall
Russian oil deliveries through Ukraine fell 14%, from 11.36 million tons to
9.73 million tons, largely due to Czechia’s decision to stop purchasing Russian
crude.
Fuel prices and Hungarian elections
Analysts say the political fallout in Hungary could be more significant than the economic impact in Ukraine.
Hungary may need to draw on strategic reserves or ship Russian oil by sea and route it through Croatia. Prolonged disruption could push up gasoline prices.
Illya Yurchyna of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” said fuel prices in Hungary currently average about EUR1.50 ($1.77) per liter for A-95 gasoline, roughly in line with EU averages. Prices could rise if Hungary shifts away from Russian oil, but likely would not exceed EUR2 ($2.36) per liter and would represent temporary turbulence rather than a long-term trend.
Hungary’s parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 12. Analysts say fuel prices are unlikely to surge dramatically before voting.
Since Fidesz’s 2022 victory, Hungary has experienced reduced purchasing power amid frozen EU funding linked to democratic backsliding. Yurchyna said Magyar’s Tisza party is viewed by some voters as a vehicle for change, particularly if it can restore access to EU funds.
The European Union granted Hungary and Slovakia temporary
exemptions allowing imports of Russian oil due to geographic constraints, but
only through the end of 2027.
A strategic dilemma for Kyiv
Ukraine faces a difficult calculation. Quickly restoring pipeline operations could blunt accusations from Budapest and limit anti-Ukraine rhetoric. However, resuming transit would allow Hungary to continue receiving cheaper Russian oil, potentially strengthening Orbán’s domestic standing.
Prolonged repairs could increase political pressure on Budapest ahead of elections but risk accusations that Kyiv is interfering in Hungary’s internal affairs.
Even when the pipeline was operational, Hungary has continued to block aspects of Ukraine’s European integration. Under Orbán, Budapest vetoed the opening of substantive EU accession negotiations with Kyiv.
Yurchyna said discussions are underway about “front-loading” reforms — allowing Ukraine to implement required EU acquis chapters without formally lifting Hungary’s veto, a temporary workaround that could eventually force Budapest to reconsider.
However, Orbán’s potential defeat would not automatically change Hungary’s stance. Magyar recently said at the Munich Security Conference that he would defend Hungarian national interests and, together with Poland, would not support accelerated EU accession for Ukraine.