Hungary begins blocking Ukrainian news websites following government ban

Hungarian internet providers have started restricting access to Ukrainian media outlets that were recently banned by the Hungarian government.

According to European Pravda, as of the morning of 30 September, not all of the banned websites have been blocked yet, although internet providers appear to be working from the same list of outlets.

Fixed-line internet providers began implementing the blocks on the evening of 29 September, while mobile providers started doing so on the morning of 30 September.

European Pravda was among the first websites to be made inaccessible. However, most of the other banned Ukrainian news sites remain available for now. For instance, readers have reported that Ukrainska Pravda is still accessible.

In mid-September, Ukraine banned several foreign publications, including Hungary's Origo and Demokrata, for spreading Russian propaganda.

On 29 September, the Hungarian government announced a retaliatory ban on a number of Ukrainian news portals, including European Pravda and Ukrainska Pravda.

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Hungary's move amounts to blocking the Hungarian public's access to fact-based journalism.