Hungary bans 12 Ukrainian news sites, including European Pravda and Ukrainska Pravda
The Hungarian government has banned a number of Ukrainian media outlets, including Ukrainska Pravda and European Pravda.
Source: European Pravda, citing Gergely Gulyás, Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister of Hungary
Details: In mid-September, Ukraine banned several foreign news outlets it says regularly disseminate Russian propaganda, including the Hungarian outlets Origo and Demokrata.
Gulyás claimed Ukraine was concerned that these outlets "dared to write critically about the policy of sanctions against Russia and military support for Ukraine" and portrayed the EU and NATO as fragmented and ineffective.
Quote: "Following the principle of reciprocity, today Hungary is introducing mirror measures against Ukrainian news portals so they will not be accessible in Hungary.
I don't think many people read Ukrainska Pravda or even want to read it. However, a sovereign country must give a proportional response to an entirely unfounded attack."
More details: Gulyás said the following Ukrainian media outlets have been banned:
- tsn.ua
- oboz.ua
- anons-zak.com.ua
- ungvar.uz.ua
- zakarpattya.net.ua
- pravda.com.ua
- hromadske.ua
- nv.ua
- lb.ua
- insiderinfo.com.ua
- uaonline.com.ua
- eurointegration.com.ua
The Hungarian news site Telex reported that Russia has taken similar steps before. Last year it banned the 444.hu website, making it the only Hungarian media outlet to be banned in Russia.
Background:
- Last year Gulyás said: "I disapprove of 444 being banned anywhere." The Hungarian prime minister's press service, fearing Russian retaliation, chose not to respond to the ban. Those concerns, however, do not seem to have arisen with respect to Ukraine's decision.
- When Hungarians head to the ballot box in April 2026, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will face the greatest challenge to his 15-year rule.
- Péter Magyar, a former member of Orbán's political circle, is leading a party that has a chance of defeating Orbán's Fidesz party in parliamentary elections for the first time since 2010.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!