Orbán deploys troops to protect Hungarian energy facilities from alleged Ukrainian attacks

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has claimed there is a "Ukrainian threat" to Hungary's energy system and announced the deployment of troops to protect the energy infrastructure.

As reported by Hungarian newspaper HVG, on 26 February, following a meeting of Hungary's Defence Council, Orbán alleged that Ukraine is "planning new actions" to harm Hungary's energy system, in addition to supposedly halting the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, and that he would take measures in response.

"I have ordered the strengthening of protection for energy infrastructure facilities… We will deploy troops near energy facilities and the necessary means to prevent attacks. Police will patrol around designated power plants, distribution stations and dispatch centres," he said.

Orbán also stated that he had ordered a ban on drone flights in the region bordering Ukraine.

Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó claimed that the Druzhba oil pipeline had not been damaged by a Russian missile and that Ukraine had halted Russian oil supplies to Hungary for purely political reasons in order to support the Hungarian opposition in elections.

Szijjártó confirmed that for this reason Hungary would continue to block both the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia and the provision of a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine.

Szijjártó again accused Ukraine of pursuing an "anti-Hungarian policy" and harbouring "hatred" towards his country.

Parliamentary elections in Hungary are scheduled for April 2026. Opinion polls show a significant lead for the opposition Tisza party.