Payment issues linked to U.S. sanctions on Russia were behind the latest halt in oil supplies by Russia to the Czech Republic via the Druzhba pipeline, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Oil has stopped flowing through the "Druzhba" pipeline to the Czech Republic, posing a problem for Orlen Unipetrol. On Wednesday, the Czech government decided to lend the company up to 364,000 tons of crude oil from strategic reserves if the interruption in oil supply persists.

Oil flow through the "Druzhba" pipeline to the Czech Republic has ceased, posing a challenge for Orlen Unipetrol. On Wednesday, the Czech government decided to lend the company up to 364,000 tonnes of crude oil from its strategic reserves if the supply interruption continues.

Czechia has stopped receiving Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. The country is prepared for such a development, the Czech oil pipeline operator MERO ČR reports. "We have information about the cessation of oil supplies to Czechia via the Druzhba pipeline.