The Foreign Ministry announced plans to maintain the volume of oil pumping through Ukraine

Russia intends to maintain the volume of oil pumping through the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to Eastern Europe, informed RIA Novosti Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Galuzin.

“I can only add that on December 20, in an interview with the Rossiya 24 TV channel, Transneft President Tokarev said that next year the volume of oil pumped through the southern branch of the Druzhba oil pipeline to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic will remain at this year’s level,” he said.

Galuzin added that Transneft confirmed receipt of a notification from Ukrtransnafta about an increase in tariffs for pumping oil through Druzhba from January 1 next year.

Earlier, Ukrtransnafta informed “Transneft” that “the ongoing destruction of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure” has led to a significant shortage of electricity, an increase in its cost, a shortage of fuel and spare parts, wrote Bloomberg. The company said it would raise tariffs for oil transportation to Hungary and Slovakia by 2.1 euros per ton to 13.6 euros ($13.9) from January 1. The duty was also raised in April, resulting in an overall year-on-year increase of 51%.

The Russian operator confirmed receipt of a request from Ukrtransnafta to increase the tariff for oil transit through the territory of Ukraine. The company noted that they are studying these proposals, and are also preparing relevant reports to the FAS and the Ministry of Energy.

Russian oil supplies to Europe came under sanctions after the start of a special military operation in Ukraine, but the European Union made an exception for transit along the southern branch of Druzhba to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. An exception for the Czech Republic will be valid until the end of 2023, for Hungary and Slovakia no deadline has been set.