Serbian police and military forces have discovered an explosive device next to a major gas pipeline linking Serbia and Hungary, officials said, days before Hungary’s parliamentary elections.
The device was found less than ten kilometres from the Hungarian border and did not detonate, causing no damage. However, the incident has heightened concerns in Budapest about the security of critical energy infrastructure. The pipeline supplies around 60% of Hungary’s gas.
Serbian authorities said the explosive had been professionally prepared, sealed, and fitted with detonators. Markings suggested it was manufactured in the United States.
The discovery prompted an immediate response from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who raised the possibility of foreign involvement, including Ukraine. Hungarian officials have repeatedly warned that the country’s energy supply remains vulnerable amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Serbia’s military intelligence chief, Đuro Jovanić, later said there was no evidence linking Ukraine to the device, adding that the origin of the explosive did not indicate who planted it. Serbian authorities said they were pursuing “intelligence leads” but had not identified any suspects.
Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian gas delivered via Serbia, a supply route the government has described as essential to national energy security. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Budapest has resisted efforts to cut these flows, arguing that alternatives remain insufficient.
Hungarian officials have previously accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt energy supplies, including via the Druzhba pipeline. While no evidence has been presented linking Kyiv to the latest incident, the government has pointed to a broader pattern of pressure on Central Europe’s energy infrastructure.
The discovery comes days before Hungary’s April 12 election, in which Orbán’s Fidesz party faces a strong challenge from Péter Magyar’s Tisza party. Polls suggest a close race, with the outcome still uncertain.
The incident is likely to reinforce government warnings about energy security and the risks facing key infrastructure during a period of heightened political and economic tension.
