Druzhba oil pipeline restarts after three-month disruption, easing Central Europe supply pressure

Crude oil shipments have resumed along the Druzhba pipeline after a prolonged disruption that had strained energy relations across Central Europe. Slovak authorities said deliveries restarted in the early hours of 23 April, with significant volumes expected to reach the region before the end of the month.

Outage tied to a wider diplomatic dispute

The interruption lasted roughly three months and escalated into a broader diplomatic confrontation involving Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia. Hungary and Slovakia accused Ukraine of delaying repair work and linked the shutdown to political pressure, including by blocking a major European Union financial package.

Ukrainian officials, by contrast, said the pipeline was shut down due to physical damage to infrastructure following a Russian strike earlier this year. EU institutions backed that explanation. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico questioned it, arguing that the relatively quick restoration of flows suggests the pipeline was not significantly damaged and may have been used as leverage in a wider geopolitical dispute.

Restart coincides with political change in Hungary

The pipeline restart also arrives amid a notable transition in Hungary’s politics. After elections in April ended Viktor Orban’s long-dominant leadership, Peter Magyar signaled a shift in foreign policy direction. Among early changes was a willingness to lift Hungary’s opposition to EU financial support for Ukraine.

Supply line for regional refineries begins flowing again

Energy companies confirmed that crude transit has resumed along the route, restoring an important supply line for refineries across the region. MOL Group—operator of major processing facilities in both Hungary and Slovakia—said flows from Belarus into Ukraine have restarted, easing pressure on alternative supply routes.

While the return of Druzhba operations is expected to stabilize regional oil logistics, the episode underscored how vulnerable critical energy infrastructure remains when geopolitical tensions spill into cross-border energy systems.