Ukraine Escalates Attacks on Druzhba Pipeline Amid Ongoing Energy Warfare

This week, Ukraine’s military targeted the Druzhba oil pipeline within Russia, as reported by military intelligence sources in Kyiv on Wednesday. This incident marks at least the fifth attack on this crucial supply route in 2023.

The strike focused on the Taganrog-Lipetsk segment located in the central Tambov region of Russia, employing a remote-controlled explosive device, according to information from Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) shared with Reuters and The Kyiv Independent.

Despite the attacks, Slovakia and Hungary continue to depend on the southern branch of Druzhba, benefiting from temporary exemptions to EU sanctions that were implemented following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, both the Slovak pipeline operator and Hungary’s energy firm MOL reported that oil supplies were still being delivered without disruption. Russian officials have not issued any public response regarding the explosion.

Since the summer, Ukraine has stepped up its assaults on Russian energy facilities to undermine Moscow’s oil revenues, which are essential for funding its military operations. November alone witnessed a record number of at least 14 drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries, according to Bloomberg.

A source from HUR informed the Kyiv Independent that these attacks are part of Ukraine’s response to the ongoing Russian assaults on its energy infrastructure.

«The Russian oil network, which serves as a primary income source for the aggressor state and its military-industrial complex, will continue to face explosions and fires until the enemy ceases its attempts to assault Ukraine,» the source was quoted as saying.