Several EU states seek access to Druzhba pipeline

Following Hungary and Slovakia, several EU member states supporting Kyiv and the European Commission have also asked Ukraine to allow them to visit the Druzhba oil pipeline, the Financial Times reported, citing five sources.

The visit would aim to verify the condition of the damaged pipeline and demonstrate that Ukraine is working to restore Russian oil supplies.

Oil has not flowed through Druzhba to Hungary and Slovakia since 27 January. Kyiv says the disruption was caused by a Russian attack on the pipeline’s equipment. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suggest that Ukraine has deliberately withheld the resumption of transit. The Ukrainian side denies the claim.

According to the Financial Times, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa requested access to the pipeline during their visit to Kyiv so that they could independently assess the situation. However, their request was rejected. EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová also requested an inspection of the pipeline, but her request was refused by Kyiv for security reasons.

Ukrainian officials say that Naftogaz technicians provided European partners with evidence of serious damage. According to Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koreckiy, the attack caused a fire in a 75,000-cubic-metre tank and damaged several pieces of equipment. A complete assessment of the damage is expected to be finished soon.

Orbán emphasised that satellite images show no technical obstacles to restoring operations. President Zelenskyy responded that underground pipelines and control systems cannot be seen from satellites.

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