Ukraine says it has made substantial progress in repairing the Druzhba oil pipeline damaged by a Russian drone strike, with completion expected this spring, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The pipeline, a critical route for Russian oil exports to Central Europe, has been offline since late January after the attack in western Ukraine disrupted flows to Hungary and Slovakia.
Kyiv’s timeline has been challenged by both governments, which accuse Ukraine of delaying restoration work, claims Ukrainian authorities have firmly denied.
Zelenskiy reiterated that Ukraine remains committed to its repair agreement, noting that while significant progress has been made, rebuilding destroyed storage infrastructure will take longer.
The outage has intensified tensions between Ukraine and Hungary, which has maintained close energy and political ties with Russia since the 2022 invasion.
In response to the disruption, Hungary has blocked a proposed €90 billion European Union loan package intended to support Ukraine’s economy.
The standoff underscores the broader geopolitical stakes surrounding energy transit routes amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
An industry source previously indicated that April is the most likely timeframe for completing the repairs, aligning with Kyiv’s spring target.
The dispute also comes at a sensitive political moment in Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orban faces a tight parliamentary election.
The outcome could influence Budapest’s stance on Ukraine and energy cooperation within the European Union.