Hungary is sending troops to secure its energy infrastructure due to alleged threats from Ukraine, as tensions rise following a disruption in Russian oil supplies.
On February 25, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the deployment of soldiers and military equipment to safeguard essential energy infrastructure, citing what he described as a potential threat from Ukraine. This decision comes in the wake of heightened tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, triggered by disruptions in oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, which delivers Russian crude oil to Hungary and Slovakia. The situation escalated after the pipeline ceased operations on January 27 due to Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Orban stated that a defense council meeting was convened in response to the ongoing blockade of oil supplied to Hungary from Ukraine, expressing his concerns over Ukraine's plans to further disrupt Hungary's energy system. Following the cessation of oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline, Orban emphasized the need to bolster the security of Hungary’s critical energy infrastructure, asserting that the country's energy stability is at risk.
The deployment of troops marks a significant military step, underscoring the increasingly strained relations between Budapest and Kyiv amid a complex geopolitical landscape influenced by the ongoing war in Ukraine and its repercussions on regional energy security. Hungary's actions reflect concerns over its reliance on Russian energy supplies and the potential impact of the conflict on its national interests.
