Satellite image showing the status of the Druzhba pipeline and the Brody oil pumping station on February 21, 2026. No fire or smoke is visible on the oil storage tank.
A five-member delegation has been formed to examine the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline in the event that Kyiv does not resume oil deliveries within three working days, the parliamentary state secretary of the Ministry of Energy, who is also the head of the delegation, announced at a press conference in Budapest on Thursday.
Gábor Czepek said that they are calling on Kyiv to resume oil deliveries to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline within three working days or to allow the delegation to inspect and assess the situation on site at the substation in Brody.
The state secretary said that, based on the request and opportunity provided by the government decision,
the five-member delegation he leads includes two experts from Hungarian oil company MOL and two government officials with expertise in international relations.
Gábor Czepek. Photo: MTI/Hegedüs Róbert
The politician recalled that no crude oil has been arriving via the Druzhba pipeline since January 27. “The crude oil in question is owned by MOL, it is taken over at a station in Belarus and then arrives in Ukraine. Ukraine and the Ukrainian transport company only carry out the transport,” he pointed out.
According to their information, although a tank at the substation in question was damaged, the pipeline is intact and transportation can be restored,
he said.
He explained that Ukraine is responsible for oil transportation under the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and the 1991 Ukrainian-Hungarian international treaty. The politician also emphasized that no sanctions or European Union regulations affect crude oil transportation. Russian-type Ural crude oil can be imported without restriction via the Druzhba pipeline, he said.
He noted that on Thursday he also approached Denisa Saková, Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, with the aim of getting Slovakia to join the initiative and the work of the delegation. The relevant Hungarian representatives also reported on all this during consultations with the European Commission.
The state secretary also reported that
MOL’s experts had been informed by Ukrtransnafta that only official approval was needed for the transport to Hungary to begin.
“In other words, it is up to a political decision whether crude oil can be transported to Hungary,” he explained.
Gábor Czepek said that they are confident that by the end of the working day next Tuesday, the delegation will either have the opportunity to inspect the pipeline or it will be on its way to Hungary. If not, they will consider the next steps, following all diplomatic channels, he added.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Kommunikációs Főosztály
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