Orban posts video warning his children about "threat from Ukrainians"

Orban claims Ukrainians are "threatening his family"

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, has accused Ukrainians of plotting to attack his family. The dispute has unfolded as Hungary approaches a parliamentary election next month that could end Orbán’s 16 years in power, with the prime minister and his allies appearing to use the confrontation for political advantage.

In a video released on Wednesday night, Orbán appeared to speak to his daughters by phone, saying: “I’m sure you’ll see on the news that the Ukrainians have threatened not only me but you as well.” He added: “My kids and my grandkids … We have to take this seriously but we must not be scared.” The remarks appeared to refer to comments by Hrihoriy Omelchenko, a retired Ukrainian politician who served in the SBU security service in the 1990s and who suggested in a televised interview that vigilantes could target Orbán if he did not change his stance on Ukraine. Earlier, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had also said he might “give this person’s address to our armed forces” when referring to Orbán, comments that reportedly prompted European allies to urge him to tone down his rhetoric.

The latest tensions were triggered after Ukraine said repairs to an oil pipeline carrying Russian oil to Hungary, reportedly damaged in a Russian drone attack, could take several weeks.

FT: Russia is running a disinformation campaign in Hungary to support Orbán

The Kremlin has launched a disinformation campaign intended to help Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, secure re-election next month, according to people familiar with the matter, The Financial Times reports. Russia is said to have endorsed a plan by the Social Design Agency, a Kremlin-linked media consultancy under western sanctions, to support Orbán’s Fidesz party by spreading messages on social media designed in Russia and shared by influential Hungarians. A proposal prepared by the agency for the Kremlin last year reportedly presents Orbán as the only candidate capable of preserving Hungary’s sovereignty and dealing with global leaders as an equal. It contrasts him with his main challenger, Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, describing Orbán as a “strong leader with global friends” and Magyar as a “Brussels puppet with no outside support”.

The proposal also outlines “information attacks” targeting Magyar, whose party currently leads in opinion polls. The campaign aims to portray Tisza as marked by “incompetence, division and secret agendas”, highlighting controversial party figures and depicting Magyar as dependent on the EU. Reports by the independent outlet VSquare said three officers from Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency had recently been posted to the embassy in Budapest, prompting Magyar to call for their removal and declare: “Russians, go home”. The agents are believed to be linked to Sergei Kirienko, Putin’s deputy chief of staff, who has previously overseen similar campaigns. The effort comes amid growing tensions between Budapest and Kyiv, after Orbán vetoed a €90bn EU loan for Ukraine following a dispute over a damaged oil pipeline. The Social Design Agency’s proposal warns that direct Russian backing could prove counterproductive, noting: “While interfering in election narratives, one should take into account that direct support from Russia could have the opposite effect.”

21 Research Center: Fidesz is gaining strength, but Tisza still leads

Fidesz's deficit has decreased among those who say they will vote, but the Tisza Party still has a significant lead, according to a survey by the 21 Research Center, commissioned by 24.hu. According to estimates, Tisza would win 115 of the 199 seats if the elections were this Sunday.

According to the survey, 92 percent of voters would vote for one of the two major parties, with all other parties combined receiving 8 percent, of which 6 percent would go to Mi Hazánk, and 1 percent each to the Democratic Coalition and the Hungarian Two-Tailed Dog Party. Among the entire population, Tisza has a 38-30 advantage, while far-right Mi Hazánk is at 4 percent. Among party voters, the score is 51-41 in favor of Tisza, with Mi Hazánk standing at 6 percent. Thanks to the mobilization of Fidesz supporters, Fidesz has somewhat caught up with Tisza among those who say they will definitely vote, with Tisza now at 53 percent and the government at 39 percent among definite party voters. The latter is the highest Fidesz figure since October 2024.