Hungary alleges plot to blow up gas pipeline ahead of election
Hungary Alleges Plot to Bomb Gas Pipeline Before Election
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called an urgent session of the National Defence Council following the discovery of explosives near a key Russian gas pipeline. The location, a border zone with Serbia, has raised concerns as the country prepares for pivotal elections on April 3. Opposition leader Peter Magyar criticized Orban, suggesting the alarm was staged with “Russian advisers” to stoke fear.
Security Experts Warn of ‘False Flag’ Operation
Days after warnings from analysts about a potential “false flag” attack that could shift blame to Ukraine, Magyar accused Orban of using the incident to manipulate public opinion. Orban, a long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has pushed back against EU pressure to cut ties with Russian energy sources since the war in Ukraine began.
“Our units found an explosive of devastating power,” said Serbian President Alexander Vucic in a social media post. “I told PM Orban we would keep him informed about the investigation.”
The explosives were uncovered by Serbian forces near the village of Tresnjevac in the Kanjiza district, about 20km from where the TurkStream pipeline enters Hungary. This pipeline, vital for transporting Russian gas, supplies between five and eight billion cubic metres annually to Hungary and Slovakia. The discovery has intensified speculation about the political motives behind the incident.
Opposition Claims Attack Was Planned to Help Orban
Magyar and other Orban allies argue the attack could be a setup to bolster Orban’s image. “If the investigation proves we were not the main target, but Hungary’s supply lines, then this makes it clear the attack was meant to topple Viktor Orban,” said Balint Pasztor, head of the Vojvodina Hungarian Association. Fidesz, Orban’s ruling party, has positioned anti-Ukraine sentiment as central to its campaign, promising low fuel prices through Russian energy imports.
Orban claims a “Kyiv-Brussels-Berlin” alliance is working to disrupt his access to cheap Russian fuel, aiming to replace him with a “puppet” leader. He also warned that a government led by his rival could thrust Hungary into a broader European conflict with Russia. The accusation comes as Ukraine claims the Druzhba pipeline, which delivers Russian oil through Ukrainian territory, has been damaged in a Russian strike and is expected to resume operations mid-April.
Experts Doubt Ukrainian Involvement
Some Hungarian security analysts, like former counter-intelligence officer Peter Buda, believe the attack was designed to sway public sentiment. “Ukraine’s interests aren’t at risk here. This operation would help Orban ahead of the election,” Buda said. Meanwhile, Andras Racz, a security expert, predicted the explosives might be linked to Ukraine, allowing Orban to blame Kyiv again.
Despite the claim, no official evidence of Ukrainian involvement has been released. Serbian authorities are set to share initial findings soon, potentially revealing whether the attack was a coordinated effort to benefit Orban’s political agenda.
