Russia says oil pipeline near Ukraine border attacked

Russia says there has been a "terrorist attack" on a section of the Druzhba oil pipeline near the border with Ukraine.

"Early this morning there was an attempted terrorist attack on the Druzhba oil pipeline system at the Bryansk station," Russian pipeline operator Transneft said in a statement on April 10.

A Transneft spokesman said no casualties were reported in the attack and authorities were investigating the incident.

The Baza Telegram channel, which is affiliated with Russian law enforcement, also reported on the same day that three empty oil tanks at the Druzhba pipeline filling station were attacked, but no leaks occurred.

Part of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Szazhalombatta, Hungary, in May 2022. Photo: Reuters — Part of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Szazhalombatta, Hungary, in May 2022. Photo: *Reuters*

The Druzhba pipeline has been attacked several times since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. The Bryansk section of the Druzhba pipeline was also attacked in March.

Oil supplies to parts of Eastern and Central Europe via the pipeline were suspended in November 2022, after a missile hit a power plant near the Belarusian border that supplies electricity to a pumping station, disrupting pipeline operations.

The Dzuzhba pipeline network originates in Russia and splits in Belarus before entering Ukraine, where it is further divided into pipelines leading to several Eastern and Central European countries such as Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Russian oil supplies through this pipeline have not been subject to sanctions, however, European countries are scaling back their use of it.