Twin blasts at key EU refineries spark sabotage fears

Major explosions hit two European refineries within hours, prompting speculation of coordinated sabotage amid tense energy geopolitics. In Romania, a blast rocked the Petrotel-Lukoil refinery in Ploiești late Monday morning, injuring one worker during maintenance in an industrial sewer line. The facility is among the country’s largest and is owned by Russia’s Lukoil.

Later the same day, a fire and explosions struck the MOL Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, Hungary. Emergency crews contained the blaze and authorities initially reported no injuries. The plant is a critical hub for Hungary and Slovakia, processing crude from the Druzhba pipeline; operations were suspended while investigations began.

The near-simultaneous incidents fed suspicion of deliberate attacks, even as governments refrained from alleging sabotage. The events coincided with EU ministers backing a proposal to phase out Russian energy imports by 2028, with carve-outs for landlocked members such as Hungary and Slovakia.

The blasts also unfolded against a broader backdrop of energy conflict, from drone strikes on Russian refineries to lingering debate over past pipeline sabotage in the region. Officials in Romania and Hungary have opened formal inquiries, but with technical causes still unclear, the timing has amplified concerns about a widening shadow war over Europe’s fuel supplies.