- Category
- Latest news
Orbán Suggests “External Attack” Possible in Fire at Hungary’s Largest Refinery
- Authors
![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
-72b63a4e0c8c475ad81fe3eed3f63729.jpeg "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confirmed on Facebook that authorities are investigating the recent fire at a major oil refinery in Százhalombatta and have not yet ruled out the possibility of an external attack. He noted that the refinery is among Hungary’s top five strategic industrial facilities in a Facebook post on October 30.
“The investigation is in full swing. We still do not know whether it was an accident, malfunction or outside attack,” Orbán said. He also referenced a remark by Poland’s foreign minister advising Ukraine to sabotage the Druzhba oil pipeline, adding: “We hope this is not the case.”
-66a2900a622e096cca7808c9e73e093f.jpg)
Orbán highlighted the economic impact of the incident, noting that fuel prices have already surged. He instructed Economy Minister Márton Nagy to negotiate with MOL, the country’s largest energy company, making clear that any lost profits must not be passed on to consumers via higher pump prices.
Previously, Viktor Orbán said he plans to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington next week to discuss ways to shield Hungary from the impact of new US sanctions on Russian oil.
Hungary remains one of the most energy-dependent countries in the European Union, still sourcing the majority of its oil and gas from Russia. While most EU members have worked to cut ties with Moscow since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Budapest has increased its purchases—a policy now under strain after Washington imposed sanctions on Russia’s top oil producers, Rosneft and Gazprom Neft.
Earlier, it was reported that Budapest is actively seeking to partner with the Czechia and Slovakia to establish Ukraine-skeptic alliance within the European Union, a move explicitly aimed at coordinating opposition to supporting Ukraine.
Balázs Orbán, the Political Director to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, confirmed this strategy, as reported by Politico. Viktor Orbán hopes to join forces with Czech political leader Andrej Babiš, whose right-wing populist party recently won the Czech parliamentary elections, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
