“Naftogaz of Ukraine,” together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized a special briefing for diplomatic representatives from 31 countries regarding the consequences of the recent attack by the Russian Federation on the infrastructure of the Druzhba pipeline. This was reported by the company’s chairman, Serhiy Koretsky.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Details of the Briefing and International Reaction
The event was attended by representatives from G7 countries, as well as several European partners of Ukraine. During the meeting, diplomats were presented with detailed materials regarding the nature of the attack, its consequences, as well as photo and video materials from the scene. Serhiy Koretsky did not specify whether representatives from Hungary and Slovakia were present at the briefing, but according to Naftogaz’s press service, diplomats from these countries were in attendance.
“Restoring such infrastructure is a complex technological process that requires time, specialized equipment, and work under conditions of constant threats of repeated Russian strikes,” Koretsky wrote on Facebook.
He also reported that since the beginning of the full-scale aggression, Russia has carried out over 400 attacks on the facilities of the Naftogaz Group, with more than 30 shellings recorded just in 2026.
Controversial Statements Regarding Damages and Negotiations
The embassies of Hungary and Slovakia did not comment on their participation in the briefing. Meanwhile, Hungarian and Slovak officials deny that the Druzhba pipeline was damaged as a result of Russian shelling at the end of January, claiming that satellite data does not indicate any technical or operational reasons for halting its operation.
After the onset of the full-scale war, the European Union banned the import of Russian oil; however, exceptions were made for Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria due to their dependence on the Druzhba pipeline. In particular, Austria has already managed to diversify its oil supplies.
The Druzhba pipeline remains a key route for transporting Russian oil to Europe through Ukrainian territory, especially for Hungary and Slovakia.
On March 11, Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Energy Gábor Csepek stated that a Hungarian delegation had traveled to Ukraine for negotiations regarding the resumption of the Druzhba’s operation and to assess its condition. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that these individuals arrived in the country without official status and do not have scheduled official meetings, so they cannot be considered an official delegation.