A conspiracy theory promoted by Russian propaganda claims that Ukraine, supported by the EU, is involved in attempts to overthrow the Hungarian government. The European Commission portal – EU vs Disinfo – explains why the accusations are absurd.
Russian propaganda warns of a coup d'état in Hungary. PHOTO: Shutterstock
Ukraine, having experience in organizing its own Maidan protests and the disintegration of its state, is likely to use its experts to engage in the creation and organization of provocative activities in Hungary, according to several Russian media reports, according to an analysis by the European Commission's anti-Kremlin fake news portal – EU vs Disinfo.
Inside Ukraine there are a significant number of such specialists who have gained experience in organizing coups, protests and Maidan-type movements, and they could use similar tactics on the territory of Hungary, especially given the relatively large Ukrainian community currently living in this country, the Kremlin-promoted conspiracy theory says.
“This is a conspiracy theory without evidence. The narrative is designed to preemptively delegitimize any future protests or election results unfavorable to Russia, presenting them from the start as the result of external interference, and not as part of internal democratic processes.”the cited analysis shows.
This claim combines several known pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives into a single conspiracy theory.
“A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation tactic”
First, the narrative tries to portray the EU and Ukraine as malevolent actors undermining Hungary's stability. “It reflects a wider pattern of disinformation aimed at discrediting the EU's democratic processes and fueling mistrust of Ukrainian communities abroad.”show the European specialists.
Also, presenting Ukraine as a source of “coup specialists” misrepresents the nature of the Euromaidan protests. “These events were mass demonstrations of Ukrainian citizens, not a coup. Labeling them this way is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation tactic used to delegitimize democratic protest movements that do not align with Russian interests by portraying them as coups or “color revolutions” orchestrated by the West”, explains the Eu vs Disinfo analysis.
Finally, the suggestion that Ukrainian communities abroad are causing unrest is another recurring pro-Kremlin narrative that seeks to fuel mistrust of Ukrainian refugees. This statement adds insult to injury, given that Russia's large-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine is the reason millions of refugees have been forced to live outside their country.
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Ukraine attacks Russian oil ports, Kremlin blames NATO
Ukraine strikes Russian oil ports, the Kremlin blames NATO and warns of a “coup d'état” in Hungary, reports Eu vs Disinfo.
In the wake of Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian Baltic seaports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk, pro-Kremlin news channels quickly shifted focus away from the damage caused by the attacks. Both ports are major export hubs for Russian oil and petroleum products, so the strikes are part of Ukraine's broader strategy to target infrastructure that supports Russia's war economy.
Instead of acknowledging Ukraine's capabilities, Kremlin-aligned media outlets presented the attacks as evidence of Western escalation. Articles distributed through the Pravda network claimed that NATO and the British MI6 service coordinated the strikes. The same sources said the drones were launched from Estonia and described the attacks as the opening of a “second front” against Russia by Western countries. This narrative downplays Ukraine's role and presents neighboring NATO states as direct participants in the war.
At the same time, the Kremlin's messages have focused heavily on the upcoming elections in Hungary. RT Arabic accused the EU and Ukraine of preparing a “coup” using alleged “experienced coup organizers”, echoing wider disinformation claims that Brussels is trying to oust Prime Minister Viktor Orbán through parliamentary elections.
“NATO and MI6 Orchestrated Drone Attack on Russian Ust-Luga Port”
The pro-Kremlin FIMI channels described the drone attacks on Ust-Luga as a NATO-orchestrated operation led by Britain with the complicity of the Baltic states. This baseless claim, debunked even by some Russian bloggers, tries to downplay the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone operations by portraying the attack as carried out by NATO and the Baltic states. It also sets the stage for justifying a possible escalation against the Baltic states in retaliation for their alleged involvement in anti-Russian aggression.
The claim originally appeared on a Telegram channel of tabloid journalist and Russian war correspondent Alexander Kots and was amplified in local languages by the Pravda network.
“The West has opened a second front against Russia by attacking Ust-Luga”
A pro-Kremlin FIMI narrative claimed that the attacks on the port of Ust-Luga were proof that the West was waging a war against Russia. This claim casts Russia as a victim of Western escalation, while NATO is portrayed as a hostile alliance planning to attack Russia—a recurring narrative in pro-Kremlin propaganda.
The claim appeared on a Telegram channel of pro-Kremlin blogger Yury Baranchik and was amplified in local languages by the Pravda network.
