The director of Serbia’s military intelligence agency has refuted claims made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regarding a supposed Ukrainian sabotage operation targeting a gas pipeline between the two nations.
Juro Jovanic, head of the Serbian Military Security Agency, stated, “It is untrue that Ukrainians attempted to organize this conspiracy.” He further noted that the markings on the explosives found near the pipeline indicate American manufacturing.
Jovanic emphasized, “The manufacturer of the explosives does not imply that they are the ones who ordered or executed it.” His comments come in response to Orbán’s assertions following an emergency meeting of Hungary’s Defense Council.
On April 5, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić informed Orbán via phone that explosives had been discovered near the pipeline that transports Russian gas to Hungary. Vučić described the find as possessing significant destructive potential.
In the wake of this incident, Orbán labeled it a “sabotage operation” occurring in Vojvodina, suggesting that Ukraine has been working for years to sever Europe from Russian energy supplies.
Opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay has raised concerns about the situation, referring to it as a potential “false flag operation” and speculating that Serbian and Russian operatives might be involved. He suggested that Orbán could be leveraging this incident to counteract declining support for his Fidesz party.
According to Serbian sources, the explosives were accompanied by:
- Two large military backpacks;
- High-powered explosives with specialized packaging and sealed detonator capsules;
- Detonation cords.
Experts have concluded that the materials found would be sufficient to destroy a compressor station and significantly disrupt gas transit.
The Serbian military intelligence chief has dismissed Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán's allegations of Ukrainian involvement in a sabotage incident near a gas pipeline. The discovery of explosives has sparked political tensions, with opposition figures questioning the narrative presented by Orbán's government.