Gov of Hungary, You are on Notice

Yes.

The Druzhba oil pipeline—one of Russia's primary arteries for crude deliveries to Europe—lies in ruins after Ukrainian drone strikes surgically dismantled its operations. The attack, confirmed by Commander Robert Brovdi ("Madyar") of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, targeted the Nikolskoye oil pumping station deep in Russia's Tambov region.

The 14th Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces executed the strike with clinical precision. Ukraine's General Staff reported that units operating in coordination with other Defense Forces elements hit the pumping station overnight on August 18, igniting fires that forced a complete shutdown of oil transport through the pipeline.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó erupted on social media, his words dripping with outrage—and revealing solidarity:

"Ukraine has once again attacked the oil pipeline leading to Hungary, cutting off supplies. This latest strike against our energy security is outrageous and unacceptable! For 3.5 years Brussels and Kyiv have tried to drag Hungary into the war in Ukraine. These repeated Ukrainian attacks on our energy supply serve that same purpose. Let me be clear: this is not our war. We have nothing to do with it, and as long as we are in charge, Hungary will stay out of it."

Then came the veiled threat: "Finally, a reminder to Ukrainian decision-makers: electricity from Hungary plays a vital role in powering your country."

Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin assured Szijjártó that experts were working to restore the transformer station, though he couldn't predict when deliveries would resume.

The Pipeline Mythology

Media outlets and military bloggers immediately proclaimed this the end of Druzhba. They're wrong. This is a drone strike on infrastructure spanning thousands of kilometers, connecting Russian oil fields to European destinations. Pipelines can be repaired.

After EU sanctions carved out exemptions for Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic due to their "high dependency," Europe essentially gave these nations time to diversify their energy sources. The Czech Republic achieved full independence from Russian oil in April 2025, proving it could be done.

Slovakia and Hungary? They had no interest in reducing dependency. Why would they? Their governments remain umbilically connected to Kremlin resources.

The numbers tell the story of complicity. In June 2025 alone, Hungary purchased $165 million worth of Russian crude oil. Slovakia bought $178 million. Together, that's over $300 million monthly—$3.6 billion annually flowing directly from European Union members into Putin's war chest.

These same countries gladly accept EU funds, enjoy union benefits, and then systematically undermine the very institution that supports them. Their administrations serve their Kremlin master while the union that feeds them fights for survival.

This isn't the end of the pipeline—it's a calculated disruption that costs all three parties: Russia, Hungary, and Slovakia. Russia can fix it. Ukraine can blow it up again. And again. And again.

At some point, Hungary and Slovakia will face the mathematics of reality: constant repairs cost more than diversification. But why should Ukraine bear the burden of teaching this lesson?

Europe needs to squeeze these nations where it hurts. Stop treating their betrayal as normal politics. Stop funding their duplicity with union resources.

The entire world recognizes the nature of Hungary's and Slovakia's administrations. They've chosen to support an imperial regime while gorging themselves on democratic prosperity. This cynical corruption deserves consequences, not subsidies.

Remove the Fruits

There should be a cost for rule breakers. Hungary and Slovakia want Russian oil? Let them pay market rates without EU protection. They want to support Putin's war machine? Let them do it without European Union benefits.

The pipeline will be repaired. Ukraine will strike again. But the real question isn't about infrastructure—it's about whether Europe will finally stop rewarding its own saboteurs.

Rule breakers need consequences. It's time Europe delivered them.

Ukraine's timing wasn't coincidental. August 18th—the opening night of Trump's meeting with European leaders—provided perfect cover for delivering their shock to Russia, Slovakia, and Hungary. They understood the American news cycle: when Trump commands the screens, everything else becomes background noise.

For once, the major U.S. media houses' obsession with spectacle served a useful purpose. Their predictable blindness to foreign policy created the ideal moment for Ukraine to strike critical war infrastructure.

Strategic warfare isn't just about targets—it's about timing.

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