Hungary’s Orban orders extra security, alleges Ukraine attacks plot
Al Jazeera
PM Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party face their strongest challenge in parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban ordered extra security at critical energy infrastructure sites after accusing Ukraine of trying to disrupt Hungary’s energy system.
In a video posted to social media on Wednesday, Orban, who maintains the closest relationship with the Kremlin of any European Union leader, said the Ukrainian government is using “an oil blockade” to exert pressure on Hungary.
He added that intelligence services indicated Kyiv is “preparing further actions to disrupt the operation of Hungary’s energy system”. He didn’t provide details or evidence for his claims.
“We will deploy soldiers and the necessary equipment to repel attacks near key energy facilities,” Orban said. “The police will patrol with increased forces around designated power plants, distribution stations and control centres.”
Budapest recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, saying the pipeline, which feeds refineries in Hungary and Slovakia, was hit in a Russian drone attack.
What many in the West perceived as a strategic blunder is increasingly seen in Moscow as a costly but necessary and ultimately successful gamble.
Anthropic was the first AI developer to be used in classified operations by the US Defense Department.
The quick victory never came. But a functional economy, controlled media and slow battle gains give Putin control.
The immediate ban covers all raw minerals already in transit and will remain in place until further notice.
Several people were killed in fighting in Syria’s Latakia where suspected Assad regime supporters attacked security.
Women and children among those killed and 14 others wounded in air strikes on a village market in Rakhine.
Group says its new public database reveals extent of broad crackdown on solidarity movement.
Al Jazeera explains what India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the other four nations need to do to join England in the semis.
Federal documents reveal how financiers, billionaires and major banks remained intertwined with Epstein for years.
Record rains trigger floods and landslides in Brazil, killing 30 as rescuers search for dozens missing.
The government’s performed outrage over Gates’s Epstein links underlined its indifference to violence against women.
Countries issue warnings for citizens to leave Iran amid potential US military strikes.