Russian authorities: Ukraine has closed the oil pipeline to the European Union

The flow of Russian oil to Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline has stopped, the Russian RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing the Transneft pipeline company.

Transneft, which is run by the Russian government, blamed Ukr Transnafta, which operates Ukrainian oil pipelines, for the pipeline shutdown.

She said that the closure of the Drogba (friendship) line came into effect as early as Thursday last week.

Transneft said: "In fact, Ukr Transnafta completely stopped pumping oil to Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia along the southern Druzhba pipeline on August 4 at 0610 am."

There was no immediate confirmation in this regard from the Ukrainian authorities.

Transneft spokesman Igor Dyumin said the closure was related to payment problems.

Ukraine demands advance payment for the pumping of Russian oil through its territory, but the payments made by Transneft have been rejected due to EU sanctions.

It was reported that oil transportation operations continue along the northern Druzhba route, which passes through the territories of Belarus and Poland to Germany.

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