There are signs that the Kremlin could have promised Orban Transcarpathia in exchange for Russia’s support, – Dyky

In February 2022, Hungarian troops were deployed near the Ukrainian border.

Pro-Russian Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban could have received promises from Moscow that he would receive Transcarpathia in exchange for Russia’s support in the war against Ukraine. Yevhen Dyky, a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war and former company commander of the Aidar battalion, said this on Radio NV .

In particular, he answered whether Ukraine should expect armed provocations on the border from Hungary in light of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s statement about deploying the military to protect their energy infrastructure.

“I will remind you that the Hungarian army once deployed on our border. It was on February 24, 2022. They were standing right along the border with prepared pontoon bridges to cross the Tisza. And all these stories by Orban that they were then deploying offensive units with pontoon bridges to prepare to receive a large flow of refugees – this is not even funny, it does not withstand any criticism. There was an army there, clearly prepared for an offensive,” Dyky emphasized.

In his opinion, “Orban was clearly going to occupy our Transcarpathia at that time.” “And then we can only assume that, most likely, the fall of Kyiv was supposed to be the signal for this,” Dykyi said. Read also:

“We can only assume this, we cannot know for sure, but there are many signs that indicate that the Kremlin promised him Transcarpathia in exchange for Russia’s support,” Dykyi emphasized.

At the same time, according to him, the situation is slightly different now, because Hungarian troops are currently deployed not near the Ukrainian border, but inside the country around Hungarian energy facilities.

The expert added that Orban has been holding power for a very long time, but he is holding this power using hybrid methods in the context of elections.

“And he partially falsifies them every time, but mostly he still really wins the elections by manipulating public opinion, by monopolizing the media, and so on. That is, he is a kind of non-dictator, a clearly authoritarian leader, but whose power is still not absolute. And this spring, this power will probably be challenged the most serious time in the last ten, if not fifteen years. Orban now has a very good chance of losing this power,” Dykyi noted.

Therefore, according to the expert, the story of deploying troops around energy facilities is most likely an election move to manipulate the opinion of citizens in order to create an “external enemy” out of Ukraine.

“And considering that he really has a great chance of losing these spring elections, it’s best for us not to take any drastic steps now… Hungarians, please, watch for yourself how your dictator is clearly inventing a war that doesn’t exist. And think for yourself who can bring war to your country,” Dyky believes.

(C)UNIAN 2026