{"id":1876642,"date":"2026-04-10T15:19:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T12:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1876642"},"modified":"2026-04-10T15:19:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T12:19:14","slug":"how-a-russian-propaganda-unit-is-targeting-hungarys-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1876642","title":{"rendered":"How a Russian propaganda unit is targeting Hungary\u2019s elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/78\/16\/1200x675_cmsv2_61fc6b03-5e7a-5b41-9510-cf0f80901940-9717816.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2885293-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885293\" data-cid=\"9718014\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885293-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/14\/189x106_cmsv2_4dbec1df-9c8b-534e-82d6-dffda02b4ec8-9718014.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Vice President JD Vance speaks to the press before boarding Air Force Two, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., for expected departure to Pakistan, for talks on\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    JD Vance warns Iran not to &#8220;play&#8221; US during planned negociations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885206-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2885206\" data-cid=\"9717485\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885206-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/74\/85\/189x106_cmsv2_0f2ed97a-628a-5e88-81ef-39d729f52fa8-9717485.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117 and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Baku\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lithuania and Azerbaijan expand ties during PM Ruginien\u0117\u2019s visit\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885288-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885288\" data-cid=\"9717997\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885288-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/79\/97\/189x106_cmsv2_25ebf85b-9c80-5e94-b860-dfb6ef0f905b-9717997.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People gathering around a giant version of Risk on display\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Italy: From Go to Monopoly, board games bridge generations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885294-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885294\" data-cid=\"9718015\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885294-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/15\/189x106_cmsv2_470e737a-125c-5a9b-b627-c2948bb556b5-9718015.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emergency services at the site of an impact following a rocket attack from Hezbollah\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Israel: Hezbollah rocket from Lebanon strikes Safed, injuring several people\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885293-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885293\" data-cid=\"9718014\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885293-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/14\/189x106_cmsv2_4dbec1df-9c8b-534e-82d6-dffda02b4ec8-9718014.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Vice President JD Vance speaks to the press before boarding Air Force Two, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., for expected departure to Pakistan, for talks on\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    JD Vance warns Iran not to &#8220;play&#8221; US during planned negociations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885206-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2885206\" data-cid=\"9717485\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885206-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/74\/85\/189x106_cmsv2_0f2ed97a-628a-5e88-81ef-39d729f52fa8-9717485.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginien\u0117 and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Baku\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Lithuania and Azerbaijan expand ties during PM Ruginien\u0117\u2019s visit\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885288-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885288\" data-cid=\"9717997\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885288-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/79\/97\/189x106_cmsv2_25ebf85b-9c80-5e94-b860-dfb6ef0f905b-9717997.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People gathering around a giant version of Risk on display\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Italy: From Go to Monopoly, board games bridge generations\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885294-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885294\" data-cid=\"9718015\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885294-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/15\/189x106_cmsv2_470e737a-125c-5a9b-b627-c2948bb556b5-9718015.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emergency services at the site of an impact following a rocket attack from Hezbollah\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Israel: Hezbollah rocket from Lebanon strikes Safed, injuring several people\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe Decoded<\/p>\n<p>                          The Cube<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                             How a Russian propaganda unit is targeting Hungary\u2019s elections <\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/78\/16\/1536x864_cmsv2_61fc6b03-5e7a-5b41-9510-cf0f80901940-9717816.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"P\u00e9ter Magyar speaks during the party's campaign opener. Budapest, Hungary on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026..\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              P\u00e9ter Magyar speaks during the party&#8217;s campaign opener. Budapest, Hungary on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026..<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspTamsin Paternoster\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1775834354\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-04-10 17:19:14 +02:00\">10\/04\/2026 &#8211; 17:19 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links 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alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        A fabricated claim that Hungarian opposition leader P\u00e9ter Magyar plans to reintroduce mandatory military conscription is spreading online, with researchers linking it to Storm-1516, a well-established Russian disinformation campaign targeting elections across Europe.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>A false claim that Hungarian opposition leader P\u00e9ter Magyar plans to bring back military conscription in Hungary has spread online and been linked by researchers to a widespread Russian disinformation campaign. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The allegation, shared on X and Facebook alongside an image mimicking a news broadcast, claims that Magyar told voters at a campaign rally that \u201cHungary needs conscription to get ready for war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One post on X claimed that \u201cMagyar thinks forcing 90,000 young men into army boots will solve Hungary\u2019s problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, there is no evidence that Magyar and his pro-European Tisza party plan to introduce mandatory military conscription. <\/p>\n<p>In fact, his party\u2019s manifesto explicitly rules this out, stating that, if elected, a Tisza government \u201cwill not reintroduce conscription\u201d either after the election or any time in the future. <\/p>\n<p>The manifesto also rules out sending Hungarian troops to Ukraine or other conflicts, while calling for increased military spending and strengthened national defence. It also advocates for scaling back foreign missions that do not serve Hungary\u2019s interests. <\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u2019s Fidesz party has echoed the claim that Magyar is pushing for forced conscription, with candidates campaigning on the premise that Tisza will embroil Hungary in the war in Ukraine, re-direct pension funds to support Kyiv and impose conscription. <\/p>\n<p>There is no evidence, however, that Fidesz is behind this social media campaign. <\/p>\n<p>Researchers at the Gnida Project, an open-source investigative unit which tracks Russian disinformation, have linked the theory to Storm-1516, a Russian propagandist group that spreads false claims online to further the interests of the government in Moscow. <\/p>\n<p>The group was first recognised in 2023 by a group of researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina, and has since been identified in multiple election campaigns, including in the US and Germany.<\/p>\n<p>Microsoft\u2019s Threat Analysis Centre, a specialised team that detects foreign state influence operations, said in a 2024 report that the group formed part of a network of \u201cRussian influence actors\u201d that use synchronised techniques to try and discredit Democratic candidates in the final weeks of three US presidential campaigns. <\/p>\n<p>In December 2025, the German government summoned the Russian ambassador over allegations that the group had interfered in the country\u2019s federal elections. <\/p>\n<p>Storm-1516 uses a range of tactics, including creating accounts posing as citizen journalists on YouTube and X, as well as setting up fake news websites to spread false narratives. <\/p>\n<p>These well-established tactic can be seen in Hungary: in this election, Storm-1516 impersonated Euronews by creating a fake report and accompanying website that falsely claimed Magyar insulted Donald Trump at a campaign rally. <\/p>\n<p>A report from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, an independent non-profit think tank based in London, found that pro-Kremlin information operations, including Storm-1516 have increased their activity in Hungary over the past few weeks, focusing their efforts on discrediting Magyar and his party. <\/p>\n<p>It found that the fake website impersonating Euronews was one of six newly created websites linked to Storm-1516 that were all registered in two weeks and spread false claims about the Hungarian opposition. <\/p>\n<p>The sites shared content in both English and Hungarian, suggesting an intent to target both audiences. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Storm-1516 uses misleading Facebook ads for reach<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The false claim that Magyar is planning to introduce compulsory military service also ran as two Facebook advertisements, allowing it to reach a targeted audience in Hungary beyond a regular social media post, the Gnida Project found.<\/p>\n<p>One advert, featuring a photo of Magyar and a link to Tisza\u2019s party website, carried the caption \u201cEvery 18-year-old should know: conscription is coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Together, these ads reached more than 20,000 people combined in Hungary, the majority over the age of 50. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.71875\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/78\/16\/808x581_cmsv2_11113846-9a89-5f65-b9f7-06a1381e410c-9717816.jpg\" alt=\"Facebook ads promote false claim that opposition leader P\u00e9ter Magyar will push for mandatory conscription. \"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Facebook ads promote false claim that opposition leader P\u00e9ter Magyar will push for mandatory conscription. <\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">@Cleared. <\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Meta, which owns Facebook, allows advertisers to target users in specific areas or age groups for a fee. In 2025, the tech giant banned political advertisements, defined as those created by political candidates, parties or content promoting or opposing election outcomes, in response to the EU updating its political advertising rules. <\/p>\n<p>The ads promoting the false claim were posted by a page listed as a beauty salon, which has since been removed. No evidence of a salon operating in Hungary under the same name could be found.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Gnida Project, Facebook ads are not a common tactic for Storm-1516, but the campaign has used them in the past. <\/p>\n<p>They said that Storm-1516 often relies on contractors with regional and linguistic knowledge to carry out campaigns on its behalf.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the clearest examples is how almost every campaign targeting Armenia is connected to the Russian propagandist of Turkish origin, Okay Deprem, and the campaign materials are executed in a certain way unique to the targeted region,\u201d the Gnida Project said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are observing the same phenomenon with Hungary, for example, most of the video materials are executed in vertical format with relatively unusual dimensions,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>From conscription to conspiracy theories<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Storm-1516&#8217;s theories have ranged from implicating members of Tisza to the Epstein files and accusing Magyar of funnelling financial aid from the EU to Ukraine. <\/p>\n<p>One campaign identified by the Gnida Project used a vertical video with a false investigation from the \u201cEuropean Centre for Investigative Journalism\u201d \u2014 a non-existent organisation. <\/p>\n<p>The video falsely claimed that Magyar was involved in a scheme to funnel $16.7 million (\u20ac14.3 million) in EU aid funds to Ukraine and alleged that a trip Magyar made to Ukraine in 2024 to visit a hospital damaged by a Russian strike was a ruse to deliver the money.<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Lakmusz, a Hungarian fact-checking website, reported that posts linked to Storm 1516 were attempting to discredit \u00c1gnes Forsthoffer, Tisza\u2019s vice president, by alleging she was implicated in sex offender Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s sex trafficking ring. <\/p>\n<p>According to the Gnida Project, Storm-1516\u2019s campaign has taken different forms in targeting international and domestic audiences. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are seeing that they are using different fake websites to target the Hungarian audience and the international audience to proliferate the same narrative,\u201d the Gnida Project said. \u201cThis is a tactical shift.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.8084054388133498\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/78\/16\/808x652_cmsv2_1fcf3740-4ecd-507e-a015-afeeb6d4640a-9717816.jpg\" alt=\"Fake Sky News report claims that Magyar with withdraw from Hungarian elections. \"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Fake Sky News report claims that Magyar with withdraw from Hungarian elections. <\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">@MomsPostingLs<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>For example, after JD Vance\u2019s visit to Hungary, in which he endorsed Orban, an English-language campaign appeared claiming that Magyar had withdrawn from the election, mimicking a Sky News report. The report and the claim are, however, baseless.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                          Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Orb\u00e1n&#8217;s Fidesz bypassing Meta&#8217;s political advertising rules, researchers warn<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Pro-Orb\u00e1n actors accuse Meta of interference in Hungarian elections, despite lack of evidence<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Impersonating Euronews: Pro-Kremlin disinformation network takes aim at Hungary&#8217;s elections<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Hungary<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    disinformation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    TheCube<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Election campaign<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2885293-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885293\" data-cid=\"9718014\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885293-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/80\/14\/320x180_cmsv2_4dbec1df-9c8b-534e-82d6-dffda02b4ec8-9718014.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Vice President JD Vance speaks to the press before boarding Air Force Two, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., for expected departure to Pakistan, for talks on\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    JD Vance warns Iran not to &#8220;play&#8221; US during planned negociations<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2884829-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884829\" data-cid=\"9715437\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884829-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/70\/35\/20\/320x180_cmsv2_48e32de6-387d-5a20-b7f6-477c94a545ca-9703520.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk next to a campaign poster which reads, &quot;They're a risk. 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class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884829\" data-cid=\"9715437\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884829-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/70\/35\/20\/320x180_cmsv2_48e32de6-387d-5a20-b7f6-477c94a545ca-9703520.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk next to a campaign poster which reads, &quot;They're a risk. Fidesz is the safe choice&quot; in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, ahead of the April 12 parliam\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Orb\u00e1n or Magyar: EU braces for veto politics or a cautious reset<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884952-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884952\" data-cid=\"9716937\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884952-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/69\/37\/320x180_cmsv2_d0b8ff54-c5e6-517d-971e-888fb841b636-9716937.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman rides a bicycle by a poster showing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the slogan &quot;Let's stand together against the war!&quot; in Albertirsa, Hungary, 9 April 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Elections in Hungary: What do the polls say?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885112-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885112\" data-cid=\"9716862\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885112-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/68\/62\/320x180_cmsv2_1fc5a8ac-55fd-5e8b-b887-d7e4b94d0b64-9716862.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"military chaplain holds a Palm Sunday service in an church damaged by the Russian troops in the frontline town of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine,April 5, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin announces Easter ceasefire, proposed by Kyiv for weeks<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885126-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885126\" data-cid=\"9716951\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885126-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/69\/51\/320x180_cmsv2_beb427d4-4090-596c-bcb6-f26793829c63-9716951.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: Ukrainian officer examines a downed Shahed drone with thermobaric charge launched by Russia in a research laboratory in an undisclosed location in Ukraine Nov. 14, 2024\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Ukrainians shot down Iranian drones in the Gulf, Zelenskyy says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884367-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884367\" data-cid=\"9713104\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>     Petrol and diesel in Europe: Where are prices highest and lowest?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885022-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885022\" data-cid=\"9716515\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump issues NATO ultimatum to reopen Strait of Hormuz &#8216;within days&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2879646-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2879646\" data-cid=\"9690878\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rome Colosseum renovation reveals structures hidden for centuries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885103-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2885103\" data-cid=\"9716837\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;NATO not obliged to reopen the Strait,&#8217; Turkey&#8217;s trade minister says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884943-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884943\" data-cid=\"9716044\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran rules out restriction on enrichment programme, nuclear chief says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">A false claim that Hungarian opposition leader P\u00e9ter Magyar plans to bring back military conscription in Hungary has spread online and been linked by researchers to a widespread Russian disinformation campaign.\u00a0The allegation, shared on X\u00a0 and Facebook alongside an image mimicking a news broadcast, claims that Magyar told voters at a campaign rally that \u201cHungary needs conscription to get ready for war.\u201dOne post on X claimed that \u201cMagyar thinks forcing 90,000 young men into army boots will solve Hungary\u2019s problems.\u201dHowever, there is no evidence that Magyar and his pro-European Tisza party plan to introduce mandatory military conscription.\u00a0In fact, his party\u2019s manifesto explicitly rules this out, stating that, if elected, a Tisza government \u201cwill not reintroduce conscription\u201d either after the election or any time in the future.\u00a0The manifesto also rules out sending Hungarian troops to Ukraine or other conflicts, while calling for increased military spending and strengthened national defence. It also advocates for scaling back foreign missions that do not serve Hungary\u2019s interests.\u00a0Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u2019s Fidesz party has echoed the claim that Magyar is pushing for forced conscription, with candidates campaigning on the premise that Tisza will embroil Hungary in the war in Ukraine, re-direct pension funds to support Kyiv and impose conscription.There is no evidence, however, that Fidesz is behind this social media campaign.\u00a0Researchers at the Gnida Project, an open-source investigative unit which tracks Russian disinformation, have linked the theory to Storm-1516, a Russian propagandist group that spreads false claims online to further the interests of the government in Moscow.\u00a0The group was first recognised in 2023 by a group of researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina, and has since been identified in multiple election campaigns, including in the US and Germany.Microsoft\u2019s Threat Analysis Centre, a specialised team that detects foreign state influence operations, said in a 2024 report that the group formed part of a network of \u201cRussian influence actors\u201d that use synchronised techniques to try and discredit Democratic candidates in the final weeks of three US presidential campaigns.\u00a0\u00a0In December 2025, the German government summoned the Russian ambassador over allegations that the group had interfered in the country\u2019s federal elections.\u00a0Storm-1516 uses a range of tactics, including creating accounts posing as citizen journalists on YouTube and X, as well as setting up fake news websites to spread false narratives.\u00a0These well-established tactic can be seen in Hungary: in this election, Storm-1516\u00a0 impersonated Euronews by creating a fake report and accompanying website that falsely claimed Magyar insulted Donald Trump at a campaign rally.\u00a0A report from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, an independent non-profit think tank based in London, found that pro-Kremlin information operations, including Storm-1516 have increased their activity in Hungary over the past few weeks, focusing their efforts on discrediting Magyar and his party.\u00a0It found that the fake website impersonating Euronews was one of six newly created websites linked to Storm-1516 that were all registered in two weeks and spread false claims about the Hungarian opposition.\u00a0The sites shared content in both English and Hungarian, suggesting an intent to target both audiences.\u00a0Storm-1516 uses misleading Facebook ads for reach\u00a0The false claim that Magyar is planning to introduce compulsory military service also ran as two Facebook advertisements, allowing it to reach a targeted audience in Hungary beyond a regular social media post, the Gnida Project found.One advert, featuring a photo of Magyar and a link to Tisza\u2019s party website, carried the caption \u201cEvery 18-year-old should know: conscription is coming back.\u201dTogether, these ads reached more than 20,000 people combined in Hungary, the majority over the age of 50.\u00a0Meta, which owns Facebook, allows advertisers to target users in specific areas or age groups for a fee. In 2025, the tech giant banned political advertisements, defined as those created by political candidates, parties or content promoting or opposing election outcomes, in response to the EU updating its political advertising rules.\u00a0The ads promoting the false claim were posted by a page listed as a beauty salon, which has since been removed. No evidence of a salon operating in Hungary under the same name could be found.According to the Gnida Project, Facebook ads are not a common tactic for Storm-1516, but the campaign has used them in the past.\u00a0They said that Storm-1516 often relies on contractors with regional and linguistic knowledge to carry out campaigns on its behalf.\u201cOne of the clearest examples is how almost every campaign targeting Armenia is connected to the Russian propagandist of Turkish origin, Okay Deprem, and the campaign materials are executed in a certain way unique to the targeted region,\u201d the Gnida Project said.\u00a0\u201cWe are observing the same phenomenon with Hungary, for example, most of the video materials are executed in vertical format with relatively unusual dimensions,\u201d it added.From conscription to conspiracy theoriesStorm-1516&#8217;s theories have ranged from implicating members of Tisza to the Epstein files and accusing Magyar of funnelling financial aid from the EU to Ukraine.\u00a0One campaign identified by the Gnida Project used a vertical video with a false investigation from the \u201cEuropean Centre for Investigative Journalism\u201d \u2014 a non-existent organisation.\u00a0The video falsely claimed that Magyar was involved in a scheme to funnel $16.7 million (\u20ac14.3 million) in EU aid funds to Ukraine and alleged that a trip Magyar made to Ukraine in 2024 to visit a hospital damaged by a Russian strike was a ruse to deliver the money.Elsewhere, Lakmusz, a Hungarian fact-checking website, reported that posts linked to Storm 1516 were attempting to discredit \u00c1gnes Forsthoffer, Tisza\u2019s vice president, by alleging she was implicated in sex offender Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s sex trafficking ring.\u00a0According to the Gnida Project, Storm-1516\u2019s campaign has taken different forms in targeting international and domestic audiences.\u00a0\u201cWe are seeing that they are using different fake websites to target the Hungarian audience and the international audience to proliferate the same narrative,\u201d the Gnida Project said. \u201cThis is a tactical shift.\u201dFor example, after JD Vance\u2019s visit to Hungary, in which he endorsed Orban, an English-language campaign appeared claiming that Magyar had withdrawn from the election, mimicking a Sky News report. The report and the claim are, however, baseless.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/04\/10\/how-a-russian-propaganda-unit-is-targeting-hungarys-elections&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/78\/16\/1200x675_cmsv2_61fc6b03-5e7a-5b41-9510-cf0f80901940-9717816.jpg&#8221;] USA JD Vance warns Iran not to &#8220;play&#8221; US during planned negociations World News Lithuania and Azerbaijan expand ties during PM Ruginien\u0117\u2019s visit No Comment Italy: From Go to Monopoly, board games bridge generations No Comment Israel: Hezbollah rocket from Lebanon strikes Safed, injuring several people USA JD Vance warns Iran not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1876642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1876642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1876642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1876642\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1876642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1876642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1876642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}