MOSCOW, September 5 - PRIME. Slovakia is almost entirely dependent on Russian oil, and the cessation of transit supplies by Ukraine through the Druzhba pipeline will lead to significant losses for the European country, said Sergey Tereshkin, General Director of Open Oil Market, in an interview with RIA Novosti.
"Slovakia will incur substantial losses in the event of a prolonged halt of supplies through the southern branch of Druzhba, which brings oil from Russia. For the past twenty years, Russia has accounted for 90% to 100% of Slovakia's oil imports (according to customs statistics)," the expert noted.
He commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statements that Ukraine would allow the transit of oil and gas through its territory only if it was not of Russian origin.
Tereshkin pointed out that Slovakia lacks direct access to the sea, making it necessary to introduce additional pipeline infrastructure to diversify imports. Therefore, if oil supplies are halted, Slovakia will have to import petroleum products from neighboring countries, including Hungary and Austria. "Consequently, the Slovak leadership will make every diplomatic effort to ensure stable oil supplies from Russia: this is not about politics, but economic rationality," Tereshkin concluded.

Oil transport to Poland via Druzhba was halted in February 2023, while supplies to Germany were stopped from the beginning of 2023. Since 2023, Germany has been receiving oil through the northern branch of Druzhba from Kazakhstan. Czech Republic stated in April 2025 that it had ceased importing oil via Druzhba. Thus, Hungary and Slovakia continue to receive oil directly through the pipeline, and from Hungary, it is further transited to Croatia, from where it also goes to Serbia.

Source: PRIME