A Hungarian delegation has departed for Kyiv to assess the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, according to a statement from the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Energy.
Speaking at the Záhony border crossing, Gábor Czepek said the delegation aims to hold substantive discussions not only with Ukrainian energy authorities but also with local ambassadors and a European Commission representative.
Under Czepek, the Hungarian delegation’s committee features experts in oil, international affairs, and energy markets, including one member from Hungarian oil and gas company MOL. The government decree establishing this inspection committee was issued on March 4th.
Prior to its departure, the committee held discussions in Bratislava with Slovak energy market participants and government officials, agreeing that Slovakia would join the Hungarian delegation.
The origin of the conflict dates back to January 27th, when an alleged Russian drone attack on Ukrainian territory disabled the section of the Druzhba pipeline that supplies Hungary and Slovakia.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that satellite images prove the Druzhba pipeline—previously carrying Russian crude to Hungary and Slovakia—is fully operational.
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán echoed this view, citing publicly released satellite images and operational data to assert there are no technical obstacles preventing the pipeline’s immediate restart.
