Finance
Ukraine to Finish Druzhba Oil Pipeline Repairs in Spring, Zelenskiy Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 10, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 10, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleQuick Summary
Ukraine says major repairs to the heavily damaged Druzhba pipeline—hit by a Russian drone strike in late January—are well advanced and expected to finish in spring, aiming to restore Russian oil transit to Hungary and Slovakia and potentially unblock a €90 billion EU loan currently being held up by
Ukraine Targets Spring Completion for Druzhba Oil Pipeline Repairs Amid Dispute
Progress and Political Tensions Surrounding Druzhba Pipeline Repairs
KYIV, April 10 (Reuters) - Ukraine has made significant progress restoring the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline and will complete the repairs in spring, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, amid a bitter row with Hungary over the disruption to supplies of Russian oil.
Background: Disruption of Russian Oil Deliveries
Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from Russian oil deliveries via Druzhba since late January after a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline in western Ukraine.
Accusations and Denials
The Hungarian and Slovak governments - both of which have maintained close political and energy ties with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - accuse Kyiv of delaying the repairs. Ukraine denies this.
Official Statements on Repair Timeline
"We will complete the repairs because that is the agreement. I told them we would finish this spring," Zelenskiy told reporters in remarks released by his office on Friday. "A lot has already been done there... Of course, destroyed storage tanks cannot be repaired quickly."
Impact on EU Relations and Hungarian Politics
The dispute over the oil transit has led Hungary to block a 90-billion-euro ($103 billion) loan from the European Union for Ukraine as long as flows via the Druzhba remain suspended.
Upcoming Hungarian Elections
Hungary holds parliamentary elections on Sunday, with polls showing Prime Minister Viktor Orban trailing the centre-right Tisza party.
Industry Insights on Repair Completion
An industry source earlier this month told Reuters that April was the most likely timeframe for completing the work.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Daniel Flynn)
Key Takeaways
- •The Druzhba oil pipeline suffered significant damage on January 27, 2026, from a Russian drone attack near Brody, halting oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia. Ukraine says repairs are progressing rapidly and will conclude in spring. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •Hungary and Slovakia, heavily reliant on the pipeline for Russian crude, have accused Ukraine of delaying restoration for political leverage—Hungary is currently blocking a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine until oil transit resumes. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy affirmed the spring completion timeline, acknowledging challenges such as destroyed storage tanks and ongoing Russian attacks. Meanwhile, EU officials hope unlocking the loan might align with restoration progress. (investing.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Ukraine to finish Druzhba oil pipeline repairs in spring, Zelenskiy says
1When will Ukraine complete repairs on the Druzhba oil pipeline?
According to President Zelenskiy, Ukraine will finish repairs in spring.
2Which countries are affected by the Druzhba pipeline disruption?
Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline.
3What caused the damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline?
A Russian drone strike in western Ukraine in late January damaged the pipeline.
4Why is Hungary blocking EU funds to Ukraine?
Hungary is blocking a €90-billion EU loan for Ukraine until Druzhba oil flows resume.
5What progress has Ukraine made on the pipeline repairs?
Significant progress has been made, but destroyed storage tanks remain difficult to repair quickly.
