The Hungarian leader is escalating an energy dispute as he trails in the polls ahead of April elections.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Wednesday accused Ukraine of plotting to sabotage Hungary’s energy infrastructure and ordered troops to protect key sites.
“I have heard the briefings of the national security services and see that Ukraine is preparing further actions aimed at disrupting the operation of Hungary’s energy system,” Orbán said in a video posted on X.
The accusation adds fuel to a conflict Orbán has stoked with neighboring Ukraine as well as Brussels ahead of an April 12 parliamentary election in which he faces the prospect of defeat.
Wasting public money on ostensibly guarding an attack that won’t be coming, but really just installing baseless fear is peak Orban.