Ukrainians shut down Russian pipeline to Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia

This is not strategy; it's desperation and another big payday for US military-industrial complex.-- blj

8-9-22

TeleSur

News > Russia
Ukraine Stops Transit of Russian Oil Through Its Territory
Sanctions against Russian financial operations leave Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia without fuel.

On Tuesday, the Russian pipeline operator Transneft reported that the Ukrainian company UkrTransNafta stopped pumping Russian crude through the southern branch of the Russian Druzhba pipeline, which supplies three European countries.

The Ukrainian company acknowledged that it had stopped the transport of Russian oil since August 4 due to "non-payment of the services offered." Its decision affects the supply of oil to Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

Transneft noted that the contract with UkrTransNafta provides for full prepayment of transit services. The Russian company indicated that on July 22 it paid the amount corresponding to the month of August. That payment, however, was rejected due to sanctions imposed by the West, so the money returned to his account on July 28.

Despite the above, the transit of Russian oil occurs normally through the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline through Belarus, in the direction of Poland and Germany.
The Russian authorities immediately informed Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia of the mishap and are looking for alternative variants to make the payment. "However, so far the problem of making the payment has not been resolved," Transneft said.

On Tuesday, the Hungarian oil company MOL also confirmed that the pumping of Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline has been stopped for a few days.

"Although MOL has enough reserves for several weeks, it is working on a solution and has also started negotiations to take over the obligation to pay the fee," said the Hungarian company, whose shares fell 5 percent on the Budapest Stock Exchange after of the announcement of the supply cut.

8-9-22

TeleSur
US Gives Ukraine Security Assistance Worth Another $1 Bln
The new package includes additional ammunition for HIMARS and NASAMS systems, 20 120mm mortar systems, 1,000 Javelin and hundreds of AT4 anti-armor systems, other types of ammunition and medical supplies.

The Pentagon said on Monday, the US is giving Ukraine a new package of security assistance worth $1 bln.

"Today, the Department of Defense announces the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $1 billion to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs," the Pentagon said in a statement.

According to the statement, it is the largest single drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment utilizing this authority.

The new package includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), 20 120mm mortar systems and rounds of mortar ammunition, 1,000 Javelin and hundreds of AT4 anti-armor systems, 75,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition, Claymore anti-personnel munitions, C-4 explosives, demolition munitions and demolition equipment, 50 armored medical treatment vehicles and medical supplies.

The new package brings the total value of US security assistance to Ukraine since the start of the Biden administration to about $9.8 billion.

On February 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbass republics. He stressed that Moscow aims to demilitarize and de-Nazify the country. The West retaliated to the Russian decision by imposing sweeping sanctions on the country. Also, Western countries started shipments of weapons to Kiev.