Russian Oil Flows Halted Through Pipeline to Central Europe
- Southern Druzhba line stops after sanctions block transit fee
- Hungary vulnerable, Slovakia and Czech Republic also affected
The Duna oil refinery in Szazhalombatta, Hungary. Russian oil arrives to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
Photographer: Janos Kummer/Getty Images
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Europe’s energy security suffered another blow after Russian crude flows through Ukraine to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were halted because sanctions prevented payment of a transit fee.
While Russia’s oil-pipeline operator Transneft PJSC said there was no effect on the northern leg of the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus to Poland and Germany, the southern portion of the link was shut down on Aug. 4. Oil jumped in London, with Brent crude 1.1% higher at $97.70 a barrel as of 3:58 p.m.