Russia to Halt Kazakh Oil Exports to Germany via Druzhba Pipeline from May 1

Russia plans to halt oil exports from Kazakhstan to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline starting May 1. An updated supply schedule has been sent to both Kazakhstan and Germany, according to sources. This move is viewed as economic warfare, potentially escalating and leaving the EU with limited alternatives, stated Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD).

Kovalenko believes Russia aims to destabilize the EU and Germany, Europe’s leading economy, and possibly influence the pace of EU militarization. The disruption of these strategic oil supplies increases fuel shock risks for Germany, which is already facing energy supply issues from the Middle East due to the war in Iran, following the severance of its energy ties with Russia after the war in Ukraine.

In 2025, Kazakh oil exports to Germany via Druzhba reached 2.146 million metric tons, or about 43,000 barrels per day, a 44% increase from 2024. The first quarter of 2026 saw 730,000 tons exported. A full shutdown would remove approximately 12 million metric tons per year, representing about 17% of the oil processed by Germany’s PCK refinery in Schwedt, which supplies fuel for 9 out of 10 vehicles in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated he was unaware of any plan to halt oil exports and would verify the information. Kazakhstan has been supplying oil to the PCK refinery via the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Poland, since 2023.