Hungary alleges plot to blow up gas pipeline ahead of election
Hungary Alleges Plot to Blow Up Gas Pipeline Ahead of Election
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called an emergency session of the National Defence Council following the discovery of explosives near a key Russian gas pipeline. The find, made in a border region of Serbia, coincides with his ruling Fidesz party lagging behind in public support ahead of pivotal elections on Sunday. Opposition leader Peter Magyar recently criticized Orban, accusing him of “panic-mongering” with the help of “Russian advisers,” a day after security analysts raised concerns about a potential “false flag” operation attributed to Ukraine.
Strategic Ties and EU Pressure
Orban, a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has resisted EU demands to cut ties with Russian energy imports since the invasion of Ukraine. Recent weeks have seen Hungarian security experts suggest a planned attack on either Hungarian or Serbian soil, aiming to either rally support for Orban or justify postponing the election. Serbian President Alexander Vucic, a close ally of Orban, informed him of the discovery early Sunday. The Serbian army found two rucksacks of explosives and detonators near the village of Tresnjevac in the Kanjiza district, approximately 20km from where the TurkStream pipeline enters Hungary.
“Our units found an explosive of devastating power,” Vucic stated in an Instagram post. “I told PM Orban we would keep him updated on the investigation.”
Hungary relies on the TurkStream pipeline for between five to eight billion cubic metres of Russian gas annually. Both Hungary and Slovakia depend on this route for energy. Balint Pasztor, head of the Vojvodina Hungarian Association, and another Orban-linked figure claimed on Facebook: “If the investigation proves we were not the target, but Hungary’s supply lines, it confirms the attack was staged to weaken Viktor Orban.”
Election Rhetoric and Accusations
Fidesz has framed anti-Ukraine sentiment as a core part of its campaign. At rallies, Orban told supporters that Hungary’s affordable heating and fuel prices depend on cheap Russian energy. He accused a “Kyiv-Brussels-Berlin” alliance of conspiring to block access to Russian fuel, replacing him with a “puppet” leader. A government led by his rivals, Orban warned, would thrust Hungary into a European conflict with Russia.
Orban has previously blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for an “oil blockade,” citing the Druzhba pipeline’s disruption since late January. Ukraine claims Russian forces damaged the line, with repairs expected by mid-April. No formal Ukrainian involvement has been confirmed yet, though a Serbian source hinted the investigation could reveal responsibility by Monday.
“We had solid preliminary information about this operation, including details on location and timing,” said former Hungarian counter-intelligence officer Peter Buda. “It’s clear Ukraine’s interests aren’t at stake here. Such an attack would help Orban sway public opinion before the vote.”
Hungarian officials insist the threat is real, citing a series of incidents: an oil blockade, drone strikes on the TurkStream pipeline while it was still on Russian territory, and now the explosives found near the border. Magyar, however, alleged Orban and Vucic colluded to stage the latest event, framing it as a political move to undermine his rival’s chances.
