Russian psyop allegedly targets Hungarians in western Ukraine

Ukraine’s Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that Russia has launched a hybrid operation targeting the Hungarian ethnic community in western Ukraine in an attempt to inflame tensions both locally and internationally. According to the SBU, Russian operatives have posed as Ukrainian law enforcement officers or nationalist groups, calling ethnic Hungarians in Zakarpattia Oblast and threatening them with violence while demanding they leave the country. Authorities said the calls originated from Russia but used spoofed Ukrainian phone numbers to appear legitimate.

The SBU has stated that the campaign aims to destabilize the region and worsen relations between Ukraine and Hungary. This warning comes amid increasing political tension, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has adopted a more confrontational approach toward Kyiv. Hungary has frequently accused Ukraine of discriminating against its Hungarian minority, which is estimated to number between 70,000 and 80,000 people, due to language policies. Ukrainian officials deny these claims, explaining that the measures are intended to promote the use of the Ukrainian language after decades of Russification.

Tensions have also been fueled by energy disputes involving the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to parts of Central Europe. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately disrupting transit, while Kyiv says the flow was affected by damage from a Russian strike in Lviv Oblast and is working to restore it. Ukrainian officials continue to warn that such incidents are part of broader Russian efforts to destabilize the country during its ongoing full-scale war.

50% of Ukrainians now view Hungary as an enemy nation -survey

About half of Ukrainians now view Hungary as a hostile country, according to a survey by Gradus Research Company shared on March 18 with the Kyiv Independent. The poll found that 50% of respondents hold this view—an increase from the previous year—placing Hungary alongside countries seen in Ukraine as aligned with Russia’s war effort, including Iran, North Korea, and Belarus. Russia itself was not included in the list of countries evaluated in the survey.

The shift in public opinion comes amid growing tensions between Ukraine and Hungary over energy and political disputes, particularly involving the Druzhba pipeline, a key route for Russian oil exports to Central Europe that was recently damaged in a Russian strike. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has taken an increasingly confrontational stance toward Kyiv in recent weeks, as his ruling party faces mounting pressure ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12.

The survey, conducted in mid-February among 1,000 Ukrainians aged 18 to 60, does not reflect the most recent developments, including Hungary’s decision to block new European Union sanctions on Russia and a major financial aid package for Ukraine. Budapest has tied its support to the resumption of oil transit through the pipeline, while also taking steps such as expelling Ukrainian bank employees in a move widely seen as politically motivated. Analysts say Hungary has increasingly used its veto power within the EU to extract political and financial concessions, further straining relations with Kyiv.

The IMF team began meetings in Kyiv

Officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Ukraine mission chief Gavin Gray, began meetings with Ukrainian authorities on March 18 as part of a regular review visit, according to IMF representative Priscilla Toffano. The talks are focused on Ukraine’s macroeconomic policies and progress on key structural reforms tied to the country’s ongoing financial support program.

Ukraine’s parliament is expected to consider a series of legislative changes by the end of March, including tax increases for businesses and households required under the IMF’s four-year loan agreement. However, several key measures have yet to be approved, and lawmakers recently rejected a bill targeting income earned through digital platforms—also part of the IMF deal. The proposed reforms have proven politically sensitive, particularly as Ukraine enters its fifth year of full-scale war.

The reforms are necessary to unlock the remaining funding under the $8.1 billion IMF program, of which Ukraine has already received $1.5 billion. IMF officials have expressed concern that delays in passing the required legislation could jeopardize future disbursements, adding pressure on Kyiv to move forward despite domestic resistance.

"Iran war gives me a very bad feeling about Ukraine peace talks" - Zelensky

In an interview with the BBC, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has a very bad feeling about how the escalating conflict involving Iran could affect efforts to negotiate peace in Ukraine. He warned that the growing crisis in the Middle East is already distracting global attention and delaying diplomatic progress on ending the war.

Zelensky urged Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to meet and find common ground, following recent tensions between the two leaders. While he said it was not his place to advise Trump directly, Zelensky stressed that closer coordination between key Western allies is essential.

“I would really like President Trump to meet with Starmer… so that they have a common position,” he said, adding that such a meeting could help “reset” their relationship.

The president also warned that divisions among Western leaders risk undermining support for Ukraine at a critical moment. He noted that peace talks are being constantly postponed, linking the delays directly to the conflict involving Iran, and cautioned that continued geopolitical instability could weaken the international focus needed to advance negotiations.