Oil shipments to the Czech Republic through Ukraine, via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, are slated to begin on August 12 at 20:00. This development was reported by CHTK, citing the Slovak operator Transpetrol, which runs the Slovak segment of the pipeline. The arrangement marks a continuation of a long chain that ties deliveries from Russia through Ukraine directly toward Central Europe, with Slovakia actively participating in the transit corridor.
At the scheduled time, pumping into the Czech Republic is expected to resume, according to Linda Vashkovichova, the vice president of the Slovak operator company. Her statement confirms that the late-evening operation will proceed as planned, reinforcing the ongoing role of the Druzhba pipeline in supplying Central and Eastern European markets. The Slovak side has been receiving Russian oil through Druzhba since August 10, underscoring the gradual reestablishment of uninterrupted flows after earlier disruptions.
Earlier reporting from Reuters, drawing on sources familiar with the Slovnaft refinery and related dynamics, indicated that one of Europe’s banks had approved payment for the transit of Russian oil through Ukraine. The bank’s decision signaled a shift from a previously blocked arrangement and a move toward clearing the transit payments between transit companies, paving a path for fluid commodity movement across the corridor for the time being.
Prior to these developments, Naftogaz Ukrainy had announced that Ukrtransnafta had resumed oil transportation from the Ukrainian segment of the Druzhba pipeline toward Slovakia and Hungary. The restart signaled a renewal of cross-border flows passing through Ukraine, reinforcing the pipeline’s strategic function in linking oil producers and consuming markets across the region. The coordination among Ukrainian, Slovak, and Hungarian partners continues to be essential for maintaining reliable supply chains in Europe.