Russian oil deliveries through the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline resumed on Wednesday after months of suspension caused by a Russian drone strike that damaged the infrastructure in western Ukraine, halting supplies to Hungary and Slovakia [1]. Hungarian oil group MOL confirmed that Ukraine had notified it of the resumption, with the first shipments expected to arrive in Hungary and Slovakia by Thursday at the latest [1]. Pumping began at 0935 GMT, according to an industry source [1].
The restart of the pipeline was a key factor in Hungary lifting its veto on a €90 billion ($105.79 billion) European Union loan urgently needed by Ukraine [1]. Shortly after the resumption of oil flows, EU ambassadors in Brussels approved the loan, with formal sign-off by the 27 member states anticipated by Thursday afternoon [1]. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the EU's decision, stating on X that it was 'the right signal under the current circumstances' and emphasizing that incentives for Russia to end its war in Ukraine depend on both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia [1].
The EU had previously agreed in principle to the loan to maintain Ukraine's liquidity through 2026 and 2027, but Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Slovak government had blocked it, accusing Ukraine of delaying pipeline repairs—a claim Kyiv denied [1]. The political landscape shifted after Orban lost Hungary's parliamentary election on April 12, with the incoming leader, Peter Magyar, indicating he would not block EU funds for Ukraine, although he is not expected to take power until next month [1].
The Druzhba pipeline, with a capacity of 1.2 to 1.4 million barrels per day and potential to increase to 2 million barrels, has seen flows reduced to a fraction of its capacity due to Western sanctions and repeated disruptions from drone attacks [1]. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the resumption of supplies as a corporate matter, with technical details being handled at the company level [1].
CONCLUSION
The resumption of Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline has directly enabled the approval of a critical €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine, easing immediate liquidity concerns. The event underscores the interconnectedness of energy infrastructure and European political decisions, with market implications for both oil supply stability and Ukraine's financial support.