Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that continued attacks on Ukrainian repair crews are hindering the restoration of the Druzhba oil pipeline, a claim met with skepticism given simultaneous Ukrainian actions targeting the pipeline itself. Zelenskyy made the statement during a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kyiv, arguing that resuming operations posed an unacceptable risk to personnel.
“Why? Why renovate? So that we lose people. I reckon that is a exceptionally high price,” Zelenskyy said, according to reports. He further stated that Russian oil “financing the war” had no place on the European market.
The Druzhba pipeline, which translates to “Friendship,” has become a focal point of contention following alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022. According to reports, the pipeline is now viewed with hostility by both Russia and Ukraine, despite the seemingly contradictory positions of both nations.
On Monday, Ukraine reportedly launched drone attacks on a pumping station within the Druzhba pipeline network located in Russia’s Tatarstan region. Simultaneously, Russia has been conducting strikes in Ukraine’s Lviv region, targeting Ukrainian repair teams attempting to restore the pipeline.
Zelenskyy’s assertion that Russian attacks are the sole impediment to repairs is challenged by the geographic context. The Lviv region, located in western Ukraine, is relatively distant from the front lines of the conflict, making sustained tactical drone operations by Russian forces difficult. Russia’s ability to strike the area is primarily limited to missile attacks or the use of long-range drones, such as the Shahed-type drones (referred to as Geran-2 by Ukrainian forces). There is currently no confirmed evidence of a Russian attack on the pipeline in the Lviv region since January 27th.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Zelenskyy initially approved plans for an operation targeting the Nord Stream pipelines but subsequently attempted to halt the operation after being warned by the CIA. The operation was then reportedly carried out by a team led by a former intelligence officer, Roman Chervinsky, who reported directly to the Chief of the General Staff, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, despite Zelenskyy’s order to stand down.
The German Federal Prosecutor General has issued a European Arrest Warrant for a Ukrainian national suspected of involvement in the Nord Stream attack, though Poland has indicated it will not cooperate with extradition. The suspect is believed to currently be in Ukraine.
The European Union is currently debating the use of frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine’s defense against Russia, a discussion that took place at a summit in Brussels on December 18, 2025. While a general agreement appears to be forming, concerns remain regarding potential retaliation from Moscow and the fair distribution of associated risks, particularly from Belgium, where a significant portion of the frozen assets are held by Euroclear.
