Pipeline Disruption: Impact on Hungary and Slovakia

Oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia were halted on Monday, as Hungarian officials attributed the disruption to a Ukrainian strike on a transformer station. This pipeline is crucial for Hungary, which remains dependent on Russian energy despite Moscow's aggressive actions in Ukraine.

The incident underscores Hungary's vulnerability in its energy security efforts, as the country has consistently maintained its reliance on Russian oil. The Hungarian foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, expressed outrage over the incident, though the details around the attack remain somewhat unclear.

While some EU countries have reduced their dependency on Russian energy, Hungary's predicament serves as a stark reminder of the geopolitical tensions affecting energy supplies across Europe. The pipeline suspension follows a recent halt after drone strikes on another oil station in Russia.

(With inputs from agencies.)