Currently, there is an ongoing conflict in which Hungary accuses Ukraine of delaying shipments of Russian oil. Hungary intends to continue purchasing Russian oil due to its lower cost, which the government argues leads to lower fuel prices for Hungarians. However, according to a new report from the independent Bulgarian think tank Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), this strategy is misleading and financially supports increasing propaganda efforts associated with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The CSD report highlights that Hungarian prices for gasoline and diesel were still considerably higher than those in Czechia in 2025, despite Czechia opting for more expensive non-Russian oil. The Hungarian state oil company, MOL, has raised its prices, resulting in a 30% increase in profits since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022, with imports of Russian oil in Hungary rising significantly—from 61% to 92%. This raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of the supposed benefits that lower oil prices would bring to Hungarian consumers.

Furthermore, the oil revenues are reportedly being funneled into supporting attempts to disseminate Orbán's opinions and political narratives. Three foundations closely linked to Orbán have been accused of using these oil profits to promote his agenda, raising questions about the implications of foreign oil dependency and state-controlled finance on domestic political discourse and democratic integrity in Hungary.