BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) 鈥� Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n on Wednesday ordered extra security at critical energy infrastructure sites after claiming Ukraine was attempting to disrupt Hungary鈥檚 energy system.
Budapest has recently of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukraine鈥檚 territory. Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, saying the pipeline, which feeds refineries in Hungary and Slovakia, was hit in a Russian drone attack.
Orb谩n has in recent weeks launched an ahead of elections in April which will likely be the toughest he’s faced in his 16 years in power. He has cast the neighboring country as a grave threat to Hungary’s security, and himself as the only guarantor of its safety.
鈥楢n oil blockade鈥�
In a video posted to social media, Orb谩n, who maintains the closest relationship with the Kremlin of any European Union leader, said the Ukrainian government was using 鈥渁n oil blockade鈥� to exert pressure on Hungary and that Hungarian national security services showed Ukraine was 鈥減reparing further actions to disrupt the operation of Hungary鈥檚 energy system.鈥� He didn鈥檛 provide details or evidence for his claims.
鈥淲e will deploy soldiers and the necessary equipment to repel attacks near key energy facilities,鈥� Orb谩n said. 鈥淭he police will patrol with increased forces around designated power plants, distribution stations and control centers.鈥�
Nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports since Moscow launched its on Feb. 24, 2022. Yet Hungary and Slovakia, both EU and NATO members, have maintained and even increased supplies of Russian oil and gas, and received a temporary exemption from an EU policy .
On Sunday, Hungary threatened to block a major, 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan for Kyiv, and against Russia on Monday. Orb谩n has vowed to block any other EU measures to assist Ukraine until oil shipments resume.
Druzhba has been out of commission since Jan. 27. Repairs are hazardous and the pipeline can only operate reliably if Russia stops targeting energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian officials.
Orb谩n also ordered Wednesday a ban on drone operations in Szabolcs-Szatm谩r-Bereg County, which borders Ukraine.
A crucial election
Orban has repeatedly accused Ukraine of 鈥渂lackmail” to force him to give up his anti-Ukrainian positions, and of seeking to drive up energy prices in Hungary just weeks before a pivotal election.
Orb谩n, who retook office in 2010, to his power in an election set for April 12. The EU鈥檚 longest-serving leader and his right-wing Fidesz party are trailing in most independent polls to an upstart center-right challenger, .
His party has pushed the message that if it loses the election, the Tisza party will drag the country into the war in Ukraine, bankrupting Hungary and getting its youth killed on the front lines.
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Associated Press writer Samya Kullab in Kyiv, Ukraine contributed to this report.
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