Slovakia follows Hungary in halting diesel exports to Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has ordered a halt to diesel fuel exports to Ukraine following the suspension of operations on the Druzhba oil pipeline.

The Slovak government also decided to release 250,000 tonnes of oil from state reserves after supplies through the Druzhba pipeline were suspended as a result of Russian attacks. [On 27 January, Russia attacked infrastructure in Brody, Lviv Oblast, where the Druzhba and Odesa-Brody oil pipelines connect.]

Fico said the government is taking this step in order to conserve petroleum product reserves for domestic use.

"Slovnaft is halting diesel fuel exports to Ukraine and any other exports, and everything it refines at home, in Slovakia, will now be intended for the Slovak market," the prime minister said.

Fico stressed that there is no threat of fuel or other petroleum product shortages in Slovakia. The release of oil from state reserves will help Slovnaft bridge the period until oil arrives from Croatia.

The transportation of Russian crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine has been suspended since the end of last month due to large-scale Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Slovakia and Hungary have accused Ukraine of causing the halt.

Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that Hungary suspends diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine until the Druzhba pipeline resumes operations.

Budapest and Bratislava have also asked Croatia to allow supplies of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia via the Adria pipeline.

Meanwhile, Slovakia has declared a state of emergency in the oil sector due to the lack of supplies.