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Kremlin: Interruptions in Russian oil transit through Ukraine a 'crisis' for purchasers

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday called interruptions in Russian oil transit via Ukraine a crisis for the affected oil buyers, but said there was little scope for talks with the Ukrainian transit companies due to the fact that the choice had actually been political.

Slovakia and Hungary have actually said they stopped getting oil from a key supplier, Russian business Lukoil, after Ukraine last month prohibited the transit of resources from the Russian energy company by means of its territory.

Russia continues to supply gas and oil to Europe by means of Ukraine regardless of the war in Ukraine, something Moscow calls a. unique military operation.

Hungary's energy company MOL owns refineries. in landlocked Hungary and Slovakia, both of which are fed by the. Druzhba pipeline's southern spur.

I do not believe that we have the opportunity to enter. into contact with Ukrainian business that offer transit. Such. a decision was made not at a technical, however at a political. level, Peskov told a day-to-day teleconference with press reporters.

We have no dialogue here. Therefore, undoubtedly, the. scenario is rather a crisis for our (oil) recipients, but it. does not depend upon us, he added.

The southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline runs via Ukraine. to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, and has actually been the. primary source of supply for their refineries for many years. Rosneft. , Lukoil and Tatneft have been the primary. Russian exporters by means of the route.

2 sources acquainted with the appropriate data told . on Thursday that Russia's Urals crude supplies via the Druzhba. pipeline to Slovakia had been greatly lower than their set up. volumes.

They said that oil supplies by means of the pipeline to the. Czech Republic continue as regular, while circulations to Hungary are. slightly listed below scheduled levels.

(source: Reuters)