Russia's 'only oil pipeline to EU' in flames – Germany, Austria, and Hungary face crisis

A FIRE that broke out at oil storage facilities near the Ukraine border could impact the "only pipeline sending Russian oil into Europe," an expert has warned.

A FIRE that broke out at oil storage facilities near the Ukraine border could impact the "only pipeline sending Russian oil into Europe," an expert has warned. One huge blaze broke out near the area of the Druzhba oil depot, located in the Russian city of Bryansk, near the Ukrainian border in the early hours of Monday morning. A second fuel tank explosion was reported by local state media in Bryansk at a "military unit". Some reports have indicated it could be a possible attack by Ukrainian forces on the Druzhba pipeline, which sends oil from Russia to Europe through Ukraine and Belarus. NATO expert Thomas C Theiner tweeted: "If this fire is at the Druzhba oil pipeline pump station... then Russia's only oil pipeline to Europe is destroyed.

"Means Germany, Austria, and Hungary get no more Russian oil.

"And this also puts Russia's main oil terminal at Ust-Luga out of action." The Druzhba pipeline, which spans 5500kilometres, send crude oil from Siberia, the Urals and the Caspian Sea through to a number of EU countries, running via Mozyr in Belarus, where it splits into a northern and a southern branch.

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