Ukraine's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that oil transit to eastern Europe via the Ukrainian segment of the Druzhba pipeline has been suspended since January 27 after a Russian strike caused a fire at the pipeline infrastructure.
"This is the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure burning after the latest targeted Russian strike on January 27th, which stopped oil transit," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X, accompanying the post with images that show firefighters combating flames at the scene.
State oil and gas company Naftogaz had also reported an attack on January 27 against one of its facilities in eastern Ukraine. The company said an attack occurred but did not identify which specific facility had been struck.
The suspension of flows through the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline represents an unusual development: the pipeline is used by Russia to supply oil to European countries, and the strike led directly to a halt in transit through the affected segment.
Ukraine itself has, in previous incidents, carried out multiple attacks on the Druzhba pipeline while the line was on Russian territory. Those prior actions temporarily stopped oil pumping and triggered complaints from downstream consumers, specifically Hungary and Slovakia, according to the information provided.
Available reports do not specify the exact facility hit by the January 27 attack, nor do they provide an estimate for how long the pipeline suspension will remain in effect. The foreign ministry's post focused on the images of the burning infrastructure and the immediate operational halt to oil transit.
The episode underscores the direct impact that strikes on energy infrastructure can have on cross-border oil movements. The immediate observable consequences reported are the fire at the pipeline site, the cessation of transit through the Ukrainian section of Druzhba since January 27, and the prior history of attacks and counterattacks that have led to temporary pumping stoppages and international complaints.
Further details are limited - public statements cited do not identify the specific Naftogaz facility affected or provide a timeline for repair and restoration of flows. The information released centers on the January 27 strike, the resulting blaze at the Druzhba infrastructure, and the operational stoppage.