Following a meeting of the Hungarian Defense Council, Viktor Orbán posted a video to Facebook regarding the recent shutdown of the Friendship oil pipeline, stating that Ukraine is preparing further actions to disrupt Hungary’s energy system. In response, he has ordered the reinforcement of critical energy infrastructure and implemented a drone flight ban in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County.
The Hungarian prime minister noted that no oil has reached Hungary via the Friendship pipeline since Jan. 27. He asserted that “it is clear from the data that there are political rather than technical reasons for this unprecedented shutdown.”
While Orbán has provided no evidence that Ukraine could work to further disrupt oil supplies to Hungary, Kyiv has also already cut all Russian oil through the Friendship pipeline, including through a series of drone attacks on critical energy facilities within Russia. According to German publication Berliner Zeitung, “a Ukrainian drone attack on the Kaleykino pumping station hits the Druzhba pipeline – with possible consequences for Europe’s energy policy…This was reported by the Kyiv Independent and Reuters, citing an unnamed official from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). According to the report, the attack caused a fire at the facility, which is located more than 1,200 kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border.”
Zelensky has since claimed that Russia attacked its own pipeline, despite independent Western outlets referring to sources inside the Ukrainian government who openly stated Ukraine launched the massive drone assault itself.
“The pipeline system supplies, among other things, refineries in Hungary and Slovakia. The attack is likely to further escalate tensions between Kyiv and its EU neighbors. Budapest and Bratislava accuse Ukraine of jeopardizing the oil supply to their refineries,” reads the Berliner Zeitung article.
Orbán believes that more disruptions may be on the way.
“Ukraine is preparing for further actions in order to disrupt the operation of the Hungarian energy system. That’s why I ordered the strengthening of the protection of critical energy infrastructure,” the prime minister stated.
Orbán’s measure involves deploying soldiers and necessary defense tools to priority energy facilities. Additionally, police will increase patrols around designated power plants, distribution stations, and control centers, according to Hungarian outlet Hirado.
“And in the county of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg, I ordered a drone flight ban! Hungary cannot be blackmailed,” Orbán added.
Following Ukraine’s halt of shipments via the Friendship Crude Oil Pipeline, which Orbán alleged was intended to interfere in the 2026 parliamentary elections, Hungary responded by cutting off diesel supplies to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó added that Hungary will withhold support for new European Union decisions regarding Ukraine until oil transit is restored for Hungary and Slovakia.
Szijjártó stressed that the security of energy supplies should not be a matter of political debate. Although European Council President António Costa requested that Hungary unblock a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, Orbán stated: “Ukraine is creating an energy emergency in Hungary, and you’re asking me to pretend nothing happened. That’s not possible.”
Orbán stated he believes Ukraine’s ultimate goal is to create a fuel shortage in Hungary prior to the elections.
