Brussels 24.02.2024 The European Union failed to agree on a 20th sanctions package targeting the Russian authorities more broadly and a €90bn ($106bn) loan for Ukraine. (Ukraine drone attack, Feb.23,2026)
Hungary, the long-standing client for Russian oil, vetoed the measures – which required unanimous approval within the EU bloc, following their claims that Kyiv is intentionally delaying restarting the flow of Russian oil via a Soviet-era pipeline.
Until recently Kyiv received payments for the Druzhba pipeline transit, which still carries Russian oil over Ukrainian territory to Europe, and which was first damaged a month ago during a drone strike.
Furthermore, early in the morning of February 23, the Ukrainian drones struck the Kaleikino oil pumping station (OPS) (Transneft-Prikamye) in the Almetyevsk district of Tatarstan, which is the starting point of the Druzhba pipeline.
4 года войны. Сегодня в Альметьевске продолжается пожар на "Дружбе". В 9.10 было три взрыва на НПС "Калейкино". По городу воют сирены и объявлена воздушная тревога.
#2026 #Альметьевск pic.twitter.com/E4OanyiLtb— Lungfish (@mgerobinh) February 24, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Local residents heard several explosions. According to regional authorities, a local fire broke out as a result of the “neutralization of the UAV” and the fall of debris from the craft in the industrial zone. The Tatarstan government stated that fire crews were working at the scene and there were no injuries. Drone threats were also issued overnight in Nizhnekamsk and Yelabuga, near which Russia’s largest drone production facility, Geran (Alabuga Special Economic Zone), is located.
🚫 @PM_ViktorOrban: In response, we have acted. Together with Slovakia, we halted diesel shipments to Ukraine. We vetoed €90 billion in funding and blocked the next sanctions package. As long as oil is withheld from Hungary, we will block pro-Ukraine decisions in Brussels. pic.twitter.com/OKN7u2h3HX
— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) February 23, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Ukrainian monitoring channels have published videos and photos of a fire and a plume of black smoke over the Kaleikino oil pumping station, as well as the moment of the “hit.” Astra also confirmed the hit. The Kaleikino oil pumping station is a main oil pumping station that receives oil from several pipelines and serves as a major feedstock hub for the Druzhba pipeline system. Oil flows from fields in the Volga region and Western Siberia converge at the station near Almetyevsk, where they are then fed into the main pipeline heading west. Ukrainian Armed Forces drones were spotted in the Almetyevsk district of Tatarstan on Saturday, February 21. Authorities reported an “attempted attack on production facilities.”
BREAKING:
The Druzhba-1 station at Kaleikino, the key node of the Druzhba oil pipeline, was blown up by Ukraine
The oil pipeline accounts for 86% of Hungary's oil consumption
Almost 100% of Slovakia's oil consumption
As a response, Slovakia announced it will halt electricity… pic.twitter.com/SPu6hCZEDH
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) February 23, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó previously said that Hungary will block a 90 billion euro European Union loan to Ukraine until oil transit to Hungary via the Druzhba oil pipeline is restored.
Ukraine Is Acting Against Hungary! Szijjártó Explodes Over Oil Supplies,… https://t.co/mQUUEYTmpH via @YouTube
— Anna van Densky (@AnnaVanDensky) February 24, 2026
EUROPE DIPLOMATIC 