Slovnaft, a major refinery in Slovakia, is experiencing a shortage of Russian oil but asserts that its existing oil reserves and contracted tankers are sufficient to meet both domestic demands and maintain export activities. The company argues that it can temporarily alleviate foreign orders, which constitute the majority of its business, by sourcing products from other refineries. Despite some criticism regarding its delayed disengagement from Russian oil, Slovnaft disputes claims of significant losses faced by other regional refiners due to such dependencies.

Prime Minister Robert Fico has argued that the disruptions in Russian oil supplies justify halting emergency electricity shipments to Ukraine, asserting that the damages from the shutdown of the Druzhba pipeline are not as severe as he claims. In counter-claims, Kyiv charges that Fico's government is not utilizing the functional pipeline to resume oil deliveries. The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing Russian attacks targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, particularly as these assaults become increasingly frequent this winter.

The Bratislava-based Slovnaft refinery is well-equipped to sustain the Slovak market for several months and uphold exports, which account for up to 60 percent of its business volume. This stability is attributed to the availability of government emergency oil reserves, as well as additional supplies coming from tanker shipments. The European Union's potential swift move to cut off Russian oil could further impact the situation, signaling a critical juncture for Slovnaft and the broader regional energy landscape.