Hungarian opposition politician Tompos Márton has called on citizens to donate money to support the Ukrainian drone unit “Birds of Magyar,” criticizing his government’s decision to ban the brigade’s commander from entering the country. Márton, co-founder of the Momentum party, posted on Facebook urging Hungarians to show solidarity with Ukraine after Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó prohibited the entry of ethnic Hungarian officer Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, now head of Ukraine’s drone forces.
Criticism of Orbán’s energy policy
Márton argued that the real threat to Hungary’s energy security comes not from Ukraine but from Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, which he accused of maintaining heavy dependence on Russian oil for 15 years. He described Brovdi as a hero and condemned Szijjártó’s decision as serving Moscow’s interests. To demonstrate support, Márton personally donated €414, symbolically referencing the 414th brigade once commanded by Brovdi, before he assumed leadership of all Ukrainian drone formations.
Appeal for public contributions
In his statement, Márton urged Hungarians to make contributions through the PayPal account of Brovdi’s unit and share information about donations on social media. He emphasized that the initiative is not only about financial assistance but also about sending a strong message that Hungarian society rejects Orbán’s pro-Russian course. “We understand why Ukrainian drones target Russian energy infrastructure, and we know it is Orbán, not Ukraine, who endangers Hungary’s energy security,” he wrote.
Reaction to Hungary’s entry ban
On August 28, Szijjártó announced Hungary’s decision to ban Brovdi from entering both Hungary and the Schengen zone, accusing him of ordering drone strikes on Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline and labeling the act an attack on Hungary’s sovereignty. Brovdi dismissed the move as “dancing on graves” and promised to return to his father’s homeland once Hungary changes leadership. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha condemned the ban, pointing out that Szijjártó made his announcement while Ukrainian rescuers were pulling victims from the rubble of a Russian missile strike in Kyiv. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also criticized the restriction, calling Brovdi “a brave ethnic Hungarian who dared to fight for Ukraine’s freedom.”
