Ukraine’s escalating drone and missile campaign against Russian energy infrastructure has reached Europe’s backyard. A strike on the Unecha pumping station—a key hub on the Druzhba pipeline—forced Russia to suspend oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia for at least five days. The attack, one of several targeting cross‑border pipelines in recent weeks, underscores how the war has evolved into an energy war as well. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovakia’s foreign minister warned the European Commission that without the Druzhba link their countries could face serious supply shortages.
The European Union has pledged to phase out Russian oil and gas by 2027, but Hungary and Slovakia have maintained close ties with Moscow and opposed tougher sanctions. The latest disruption highlights the bloc’s vulnerability: alternative routes through Croatia and Germany can help, but infrastructure constraints remain. With winter looming and geopolitical tensions high, Europe’s energy security could once again be tested by events far beyond its borders.
