Hungary Again Receives Crude Oil on the Druzhba Pipeline

The first shipments of Russian crude oil have arrived in Hungary and Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline, Mol Plc. announced on the Budapest Stock Exchange’s website on Thursday.

"MOL Group received crude oil at the Fényeslitke and Budkovce pumping stations earlier today. Crude oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline system have thus resumed to Hungary and Slovakia after a hiatus of nearly three months," the statement said.

Mol announced the previous day, on Wednesday morning, citing Ukrainian information, that repairs to the pipeline had been completed and that the force majeure conditions in effect since January 27, 2026, had ceased at 6:00 p.m. on April 21, 2026, and that JSC Ukrtransnafta is ready to resume crude oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia.

Following the shutdown of the Druzhba oil pipeline at the end of January, the Mol Group approached the Ministry of Energy in mid-February to request the release of strategic oil reserves in order to maintain the region’s security of supply and to organize the delivery of crude oil to its refineries by sea to make up for the shortfall. Part of the strategic reserves has already been used.

In earlier Ukrainian reports, the failure of the oil pipeline was attributed to a Russian drone attack, and the delay in repairs was justified by the time required for the necessary work.