Satellites show damage to Druzhba pipeline after Russian strike (photos)

Analysis of satellite imagery indicates a high likelihood of significant damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline following a Russian attack in late January 2026. The damage relates to a site near Brody, where a major fire and infrastructure changes were observed, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said, according to Interfax.

Ukraine halted oil transit through Druzhba after the strike, citing damage, while Hungary and Slovakia challenged the explanation and accused Kyiv of cutting supplies deliberately.

Open-source data, including NASA FIRMS, recorded a fire at the site after the 27 January strike. It was the only such incident in the past year, pointing to a connection between the attack and the damage.

Shmyhal said a drone struck an oil storage tank with a capacity of about 25,000 cubic metres, causing the fire.

Further analysis using Sentinel-1 satellite data also shows major structural changes at the site in the days following the attack. By comparison, imagery from January 2025 shows no similar damage.

Experts note that such analysis can capture not only destruction but also major infrastructure changes, such as construction or fortification. However, given the absence of other fires in that period, the attack remains the most likely cause.