Slovakia has unilaterally suspended electricity supplies to Ukraine, Bratislava announced on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, without providing further details on the decision. The move comes amid a dispute over the repair of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which has been damaged in the conflict.
Ukraine rarely purchased electricity from Slovakia, and in limited quantities. Ukrainian consumers still have the option to purchase electricity from private traders in neighboring countries if needed. However, cooperation with Slovakia’s state-owned operator, SEPS, has been suspended after
Ukraine’s energy company, Ukrenergo, received a letter from the company explaining Slovakia’s decision to halt the agreement on mutual assistance in emergency situations.
This cooperation allowed Ukrainians to request assistance during crisis situations, which frequently arise due to Russian attacks. The suspension of electricity supplies adds another layer of complexity to Ukraine’s energy security as it continues to defend against ongoing attacks.
Ukraine is entering the spring season, with longer days and a gradual decrease in electricity consumption compared to winter. Ukrainian officials say they are taking the announcement in stride.
“Solar power plants have begun operating in Ukraine. We have a lot of them – they generate about 10 gigawatts,” explained Volodymyr Omelchenko, an expert at the Razumkov Center. “They are not yet operating at full capacity, but even at 30-40%, they provide significant assistance to the energy system. We must give a huge thank you to our air defense – it worked very well during the last attack and provided protection.”
Power outages for residents are becoming less frequent and shorter in duration. The situation is improving, but Russian attacks continue, and Ukrainians cannot afford to relax. The attacks remain as intense as ever, with debris from a combat drone falling in the very center of Kyiv – Independence Square – on Monday, March 16, 2026.
Russia continues to seek new ways to bypass Ukraine’s air defense and inflict as much damage as possible. However, following Monday’s attack, there was no widespread damage to the energy supply system.
In its letter to Ukrenergo, the Slovak partner did not provide any reasons for the decision. However, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated in February that Slovakia could halt emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv did not repair the section of the Druzhba oil pipeline damaged in a Russian attack. The pipeline was shut down following a Russian strike on the Lviv region in January.
Slovakia and Hungary, led by Viktor Orbán, have blamed Ukraine, rather than Russia, for the damage. Kyiv recently organized a special meeting, informing diplomats from 31 countries about the state of the oil pipeline.
According to Naftogaz, representatives from the G7 countries and diplomats from European Union member states attended the meeting. They were provided with detailed information about the consequences of the Russian attack, as well as video and photographic evidence from the scene.
The company explained that restoring such infrastructure is a complex technological process that requires time and specialized equipment, and must be carried out under the constant threat of Russian attacks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel issued a statement on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, stating that the European Union offered Ukraine technical and financial support for the restoration of the oil pipeline, and Ukraine has accepted the offer.
“European experts are ready to start work immediately,” the statement read. The EU’s offer of assistance signals a commitment to supporting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amid ongoing conflict.
However, the commitment to completely abandon Russian oil at the European Union level remains firm. European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen, reiterated this point on Tuesday, stating that the halt in oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline does not pose a threat to the energy security of the European Union, and reminded everyone why the pipeline is not functioning:
“Due to the fact that Russia destroyed it. That should be remembered.”
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