Slovakia and Hungary suspend diesel exports to Ukraine, but this is not critical

Slovakia and Hungary are suspending diesel fuel exports to Ukraine, but this is not critical for the market and is unlikely to affect prices at Ukrainian filling stations.

Source: NaftoRynok

Quote: "Supply of the resource via the Hungarian-Slovak route to Ukraine has been suspended. According to sources, pumping could resume either within a few weeks or no earlier than in two months – depending on how events unfold."

Details: Slovak oil refining company Slovnaft is temporarily suspending diesel exports to Ukraine and other export deliveries, Prime Minister Robert Fico said.

The Slovak government has declared a state of emergency in the energy sector and decided to release part of its strategic oil reserves in the form of a loan to Slovnaft, which operates the country's only oil refinery.

The company is to receive up to 250,000 tonnes of crude oil – enough for approximately one month of operation in a minimum mode while supplying the domestic market.

For daily production, Slovnaft requires 7,300-7,500 tonnes of crude oil to ensure sufficient output for the internal market.

The prime minister added that since the suspension of oil transportation via the Druzhba pipeline, the government has been in intensive communication with Slovnaft regarding alternative supplies, existing stock levels and possible state intervention.

Hungary is also suspending diesel fuel supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukrainian territory are restored, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said.

Hungary and Slovakia have not received Russian crude oil via Druzhba since 27 January 2026, following a Russian strike on pipeline infrastructure in Ukraine, the publication recalls.

Hungarian oil refining company MOL has already asked the Hungarian government to supply its refinery with crude oil from the country's strategic reserves. At present, this also concerns 250,000 tonnes of crude.

NaftoRynok writes that supply via the Hungarian-Slovak route to Ukraine "may resume within a few weeks or not earlier than in two months".

According to NaftoRynok, in January 2026, this route accounted for 11% of Ukraine's total diesel imports.

"Of course, it is unfortunate, but our fuel suppliers should have thought in advance about the consequences of a partnership with Russia. How is it possible, in the fourth year of the war, to receive raw materials from the aggressor state and not build alternative routes?" commented NaftoRynok director Oleksandr Sirenko.

Sirenko said that given that this occurred during a season of low diesel consumption and considering the possibility of replacing volumes from other directions, the event is not critical for the market and is unlikely to affect prices.

Serhii Kuiun, director of the A-95 Consulting Group, shares the same view. He noted that this is not the first time Ukraine has managed without diesel supplies from these countries.

"There is no need to worry about Hungarian-Slovak supplies. They are not that large (up to 10% of the market), and we have been without them several times before. Most recently – last autumn. Nothing special happened. We have alternatives," he said.

He added that Hungary will have to use its strategic oil reserves while simultaneously transporting Russian oil by sea and pumping it through Croatia. However, Croatia has declared the import of Russian oil unacceptable.

Background:

• Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that Hungary would suspend until the Druzhba pipeline resumes operations.
• Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico ordered the suspension of diesel exports to Ukraine due to the halt in Druzhba pipeline operations.
• Previously, it was reported that diesel supplies to Ukraine from Romania, Hungary and Lithuania – which in September 2025 accounted for nearly 40% of volumes – fell fourfold to 71,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, deliveries from Poland and Greece increased by one third to 445,000 tonnes, accounting for almost 80% of October's imports.

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