Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, is prepared to resume operations following repairs to damage from a Russian attack. With Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán set to step down after a decisive election loss, Kyiv anticipates the European Union will soon release a €90bn loan previously stalled for months.
Loan Approval Nears
“There can now be no grounds for blocking it,” Zelenskyy stated, referring to the pending loan. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, indicated a positive decision could come within 24 hours. Industry sources confirm oil pumping through the Druzhba pipeline will restart on Wednesday.
Zelenskyy has urged Europe to diversify energy sources and avoid restarting Russian oil flows via Druzhba. “No one can currently guarantee that Russia will not repeat attacks on the pipeline infrastructure,” he warned.
Draft Officers Detained in Odesa
Ukrainian authorities arrested four military draft officers in Odesa amid allegations of abducting civilians from streets and extorting money by threatening frontline deployment. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that special forces fired at the tires of the suspects’ escaping vehicle during the operation. The officers, from a local territorial recruitment center, face investigation for extortion. “The perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property,” the SBU stated.
Russian Cyber Tactics Target UK and Europe
Richard Horne, head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at Britain’s GCHQ, warns that Moscow is extending Ukraine war tactics into cyberspace against the UK and Europe. Speaking at the CyberUK conference in Glasgow, Horne highlights sustained Russian hybrid activities and stresses that companies must understand these methods to bolster defenses.
Recent reports Sweden, Poland, Denmark, and Norway detail Russian-linked hackers targeting critical infrastructure such as power plants and dams. In the UK, the NCSC manages about four nationally significant cyber incidents weekly, with the gravest threats from state actors including Russia, China, and Iran.
Horne notes that during a conflict, the UK could face large-scale cyberattacks. Unlike ransomware from criminal groups, state-sponsored attacks offer no option to pay for resolution, requiring organizations to fully assess risks and strengthen cyber defenses.
