A Ukrainian-linked disinformation network is alleged to be operating in Hungary ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections, with reports pointing to coordinated online activity and media messaging aimed at boosting the opposition Tisza Party.
According to investigations cited by Hungarian outlets Mandiner and Ellenpont, the operation rests on two pillars: the spread of pro-Kyiv narratives through parts of the opposition media, and a social media network linked to figures around Tisza leader Péter Magyar.
The controversy erupted after Irina Pugachova, an influencer described as close to Ukraine’s leadership, moved to downplay shocking remarks by former Ukrainian security official Hryhoriy Omelchenko, who said Prime Minister Viktor Orbán should “receive five bullets.”
Rather than condemning the threat outright, pro-Ukrainian voices framed it as routine political rhetoric—an argument that was then echoed across Hungarian opposition outlets and by political figures, including former Momentum leader András Fekete-Győr.
Reports say the same four-part line was repeated almost word for word: that Orbán exaggerated the threat, that Omelchenko does not represent Kyiv, that such language is part of normal political sparring, and that the Hungarian government is exploiting the incident for political gain.
At the heart of the alleged operation is a network of fake or inactive social media accounts. Investigators claim hundreds of profiles—many with no real followers—have been used to artificially boost content linked to the Tisza Party, opposition media, and allied influencers, helping push selected narratives further into Hungarian users’ feeds.
The activity has been linked to Fekete-Győr, whose recently launched influencer network is aimed at mobilising younger voters and strengthening the opposition’s online reach.
There are also questions over funding. Campaign initiatives tied to opposition figures, including former MP András Jámbor, are said to rely on the U.S.-based Action Network platform, widely used by progressive political groups, pointing to a broader web of international support aligned with pro-Ukrainian causes.
Hungarian sources describe a wider pressure campaign. Alongside the alleged online influence operation, attention has been drawn to Ukraine’s earlier move to disrupt flows through the Druzhba pipeline—seen in Budapest as an attempt to pile economic pressure on the government while political messaging intensifies.
Adding to the concerns, macroeconomist Philipp Pilkington, a senior research fellow at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, warned in a post on X that the evidence points to a “pro-Ukrainian disinformation network” active inside Hungary and potentially influencing the election environment.
🇭🇺🗳️There are reports in the Hungarian media that there is an extensive social media campaign directed against Fidesz being run out of Ukraine. It mixes pro-@magyarpeterMP rhetoric with what the authors identify as “Ukrainian disinformation” narratives. Real interference! 🛑 pic.twitter.com/cw5ZPacxyA
— Philip Pilkington (@philippilk) March 21, 2026
The claims come as scrutiny grows over the role of Big Tech in the campaign. Facebook has been accused of restricting posts from Orbán while boosting opposition figures, with observers noting unusually high engagement on Péter Magyar’s content.
At the same time, several pro-government Hungarian media outlets have seen their Facebook pages suddenly taken down in the weeks before the April 12 vote—moves critics say could tilt the online information landscape at a crucial moment.
Brussels has also entered the fray. The European Commission recently activated its Rapid Response System (RRS), allowing social media content to be monitored and categorised during the election period. Critics argue that, by relying on NGOs aligned with Hungary’s opposition, the system risks shaping what voters see online.
Taken together, the reports paint a picture of mounting external pressure—from online networks and foreign-linked funding to platform moderation and EU-level interventions—fueling fears that Hungary’s election battle is being fought not just at the ballot box, but across the digital battlefield as well.