Naftogaz President Sergey Fedorenko explained the necessity of this measure in light of constant Russian attacks on Ukraine's oil refining infrastructure. According to him, the situation requires diversifying supply routes and creating additional storage capacities outside the shelling zone.
These new storage facilities are planned to be built near the border with Hungary, which should simplify the subsequent transportation of oil into Ukraine. The agreement was signed during a summit between Ukraine and several Central European countries, including Hungary, which took place in the Ukrainian Carpathians on Friday under the chairmanship of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukraine and Hungary resumed cooperation after the previous Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, an ally of Moscow, lost the elections in April to the current head of government, Péter Magyár. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but Ukraine's resistance, supported by Western allies with weaponry, prevented Moscow from achieving its stated goals.
Energy infrastructure has become one of the most priority targets for Russian forces, in response to which Ukraine is making attempts to strike oil refineries and fuel storage facilities.