Hungary Bans Ukrainian Drone Commander Over Druzhba Pipeline Attacks

Hungary has imposed a multi-year travel ban on Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, following multiple drone attacks on the Druzhba oil pipeline that supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó described the attacks as serious threats to Hungary's energy security and national sovereignty, emphasizing that such actions would have consequences, including barring Brovdi from entering Hungary and the entire Schengen area. Brovdi, who is of Hungarian ethnicity and leads the Ukrainian drone forces, openly acknowledged his unit's role in the strikes on the pipeline infrastructure in Russia. Ukraine condemned the ban, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accusing Hungary of prioritizing Russian interests over Ukrainian lives and announcing reciprocal measures. The pipeline disruptions caused significant interruptions to oil supplies, forcing Hungary to nearly rely on strategic reserves during repairs. These developments highlight ongoing tensions between Hungary and Ukraine amid Europe's broader energy security concerns and geopolitical conflicts involving Russian energy supplies.