A recent incident has brought the conflict in Ukraine closer to the heart of European energy security, with reports emerging of a Ukrainian drone attack targeting a significant international oil pipeline within Russia. The strike, which occurred around March 11, 2025, reportedly impacted the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline, a crucial conduit for Russian crude oil to Central Europe.
The Druzhba pipeline, one of the world’s largest with a capacity of up to 2 million barrels per day, transports oil from Russia to countries including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. While the northern branch supplying Poland and Germany has largely been offline due to EU sanctions on Russian oil, the southern branch remains a vital supply route for these exempted nations.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed the attack, stating that oil shipments to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline were temporarily halted due to a Ukrainian drone strike on a metering station in Russia’s Oryol Oblast. While repairs were undertaken and flows reportedly resumed later the same day, the incident highlights the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure in the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine has increasingly focused on targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure as a response to the continued Russian aggression and bombardment of Ukrainian territory. These strikes aim to disrupt Russia’s revenue streams and logistical capabilities supporting its military operations. Reports suggest that Ukrainian drone attacks have already impacted a significant portion of Russia’s oil refining capacity in recent months.
The targeting of the Druzhba pipeline, despite its importance for European energy supplies, marks a notable escalation in Ukraine’s strategy. While the EU has significantly reduced its reliance on Russian oil since the full-scale invasion, countries like Hungary remain heavily dependent on the Druzhba pipeline. Hungary’s Foreign Minister himself described the attack as an assault on their sovereignty, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding this infrastructure.