Russia will stop the supply of Kazakh crude oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1. The move was confirmed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and the German government, which noted that the block will affect a vital refinery supplying much of Berlin's energy needs.
Kazakhstan's energy minister stated there would be no transit of its oil through Russia throughout May due to Russian technical constraints, assuming the issue is related to recent strikes on Russian infrastructure. Supplies via the northern spur of the Druzhba pipeline, which traverses Poland, have been repeatedly interrupted by Ukrainian drone attacks on the pipeline in Russia. These developments occur as political and business relations between Russia and Germany have frayed over the conflict in Ukraine.
The suspension forces the PCK refinery in the northeastern town of Schwedt, one of Germany's largest, to make up the shortfall from other sources. The refinery had relied on Kazakh crude after Russian oil deliveries halted following the start of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. In 2025, Kazakhstan's oil exports to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline totaled 2.146 million metric tons, or approximately 43,000 barrels per day, representing a 44 percent increase from 2024.