Kyiv rebuffs EU inspection request for damaged Druzhba pipeline

Kyiv has declined requests from European Union representatives to access sections of the Druzhba oil pipeline that were damaged following strikes attributed to the Ukrainian military.

According to reports citing sources familiar with the matter, the Kyiv administration has rejected requests from Hungary and Slovakia—both EU member states—to dispatch an observer mission to assess the damage on-site.

Zelenskyy administration restricts access, citing security concerns

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa conveyed the request to inspect the pipeline to Ukrainian leadership during their visit to Kyiv to mark the anniversary of the war.

A similar request was submitted to the presidential office by the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Maternova. However, sources indicated that the Ukrainian side declined both requests, citing security conditions in the region.

The governments of Hungary and Slovakia accuse Kyiv of intentionally delaying the resumption of oil supplies. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has blocked a planned €90 billion EU aid package for Ukraine, alleging that satellite imagery confirms the damage to the pipeline is not critical.

Similarly, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that the joint inspection mission proposal submitted by Bratislava and Budapest had been rejected by Kyiv.

In an interview, Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued that Orbán is exploiting the current situation as a tool for his election campaign, stating: “You are blocking the €90 billion needed for our survival and armament.”

Kyiv defends technical assessment of pipeline damage

The Ukrainian side maintains that the pipeline sustained significant damage as a result of air strikes that occurred in January. Naftogaz Executive Director Sergey Koretsky noted that a fire broke out at a 75,000-cubic-meter capacity oil tank following the attack, requiring ten days to extinguish.

Koretsky emphasized that equipment, power cables, transformers, and leak detection systems were damaged, noting that time is required for a comprehensive assessment of the extent of the destruction.

Ukrtransnafta reported that repair efforts are ongoing, though stated that attacks in the region are complicating the process.

Satellite imagery examined by the Financial Times confirms that damage occurred in the area. However, the report cautions that the imagery is insufficient to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the full scope and nature of the damage.

This dispute over the Druzhba pipeline has intensified against the backdrop of rising prices in global energy markets following military operations by the US and Israel targeting Iran.