Government of Hungary sends Ukraine warning letters using state channels

Hungary’s government has come under criticism after Prime Minister Orbán Viktor sent out a wave of letters that seems like part of an electoral campaign through multiple state-linked channels, warning citizens that funds could be diverted to Ukraine and urging support for his administration’s policies.

Letters sent through state systems

According to reports from readers, the messages were distributed simultaneously via several state-linked routes, including utility bills, the official e-government portal, and communications from public institutions. Some recipients said they received identical or near-identical texts more than once, reports Telex.

In many cases, the letters were presented as informational notices from public bodies such as the state energy company MVM, the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal), and the Hungarian State Treasury (Magyar Államkincstár). Critics argue that the format may blur the line between official public information and political messaging.

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They clearly have a political message

Across the different versions, the central claim remained consistent: that fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would pose a major threat to Hungarian interests, particularly farmers.

One letter addressed to agricultural producers stated that Kyiv could request vast financial support from Brussels over the next decade and suggested that such funding would come at the expense of EU agricultural subsidies. The text concluded by asserting that Hungary’s government rejects any scenario in which Hungarian resources would be used to support Ukraine.

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Recipients beyond target groups

Some people who said they were neither farmers nor eligible for the programmes mentioned reported receiving the communications. Others said they had previously opted out of government mailings but still received the new letters via alternative channels, such as secure digital inboxes linked to official services.

444 reported that parents also received a similar message framed as an update about family tax allowances, while energy consumers found the prime minister’s letter attached to gas and electricity bills. In each case, the communications included political statements alongside policy explanations.