Hungary implicates Ukraine in Serbian pipeline "sabotage", Kyiv responds

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has suggested that there are "signs of Ukrainian involvement" in the alleged foiled sabotage of a gas pipeline in Serbia. A spokesperson for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has rejected the accusations and pointed to the possibility of Russian involvement.

Source: European Pravda, citing Index and a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi on X (Twitter)

Details: Following a security meeting convened by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó posted a video on Facebook summarising the discussions and repeating the claim that Ukraine is making energy supplies to Hungary more difficult amid the global energy crisis.

Quote from Szijjártó: "Earlier, the Ukrainians blew up the Nord Stream [pipelines]. After the explosions, for a long time they said it was Russia – which is illogical, because why would Russia blow up its own gas pipelines? [...] In recent weeks, dozens of drones have been constantly attacking the TurkStream pipeline, which supplies gas to Hungary, on Russian territory, and now the terrorist attack foiled by Serbia appears to be part of these attacks."

Details: Szijjártó added that the alleged foiled sabotage "fits into a series of incidents in which Ukraine is constantly trying to obstruct the transportation of Russian gas and oil to Europe".

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stated that Kyiv categorically rejects any attempts to link Ukraine to the alleged explosives found near the pipeline in Serbia.

Quote from Tykhyi: "Ukraine has nothing to do with this. Most probably [it is] a Russian false-flag operation as part of Moscow's heavy interference in the Hungarian elections."

Background:

• On 5 April, Serbia reported an attempted act of sabotage on the pipeline leading to Hungary. Large packages containing explosives and detonators were allegedly found nearby.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán subsequently convened a meeting of the Defence Council.
• Notably, long before this, Hungary had reinforced the protection of its energy infrastructure, allegedly due to the "Ukrainian threat", and Serbia had deployed armed forces personnel to guard the infrastructure that ensures gas transit to Hungary.
• Orbán's main rival, Tisza opposition party leader Péter Magyar, believes the alleged foiled pipeline sabotage in Serbia was staged, potentially with the aim of disrupting Hungary's elections.
• Hungarian investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi has also stated that the "sabotage" of the pipeline leading to Hungary looks very much as if it was staged to give Orbán grounds to avert his electoral defeat.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!