Slovakia has resumed crude oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline as of April 23, 2026, marking a significant development in European energy security. The Slovak Economy Ministry confirmed operations restarted at 2 a.m. local time, ending a supply disruption that began following damage to the infrastructure last year.
Ukrainian authorities previously attributed the pipeline’s outage to military strikes during regional tensions. The resumption comes as relief to Central European markets, with the 4,000-km Soviet-era pipeline system remaining a critical energy artery for multiple economies.
“This restoration strengthens Slovakia’s energy stability and demonstrates the resilience of regional supply chains,”</em> the ministry stated. Analysts suggest the development could ease short-term pricing pressures while underscoring ongoing debates about long-term energy diversification strategies.
