Latest news in Hungary - 29 Aug 2025

Hungarian Government Bans Ukrainian Commander: Following an attack on the Friendship oil pipeline, Hungary has banned Ukrainian commander Robert Brovdi from entry due to his role in the military operation that targeted the pipeline. Brovdi, who leads a successful drone unit called "Hungarian Birds," has been highly recognized for his contribution to Ukraine's military strategy but now faces backlash from the Hungarian government. Read more here

Concerns About New Pedestrian Zone in Erzsébetváros: The trial conversion of Dob Street into a pedestrian zone in Budapest's nightlife district has raised concerns from the Levegő Munkacsoport, citing increased traffic on nearby Síp Street and inadequate consultation with local residents, which may worsen air pollution and pedestrian safety. Proposed solutions include reducing speed limits and further traffic restrictions to truly benefit the community. Read more here

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Heat Wave Hits Hungary: Hungary is experiencing a heat wave this Friday, with temperatures soaring between 32 and 37 degrees Celsius and an orange warning issued. The day will feature sunny and cloudy periods, but a cold front is expected later, bringing thunderstorms and winds gusting up to 90 km/h in some areas. Read more here

Increased Notary Fees Beginning September 1: Starting September 1, notary fees will increase across the board, reflecting higher operational costs. Fees will vary based on case value, with a maximum cap of 1 million HUF for cases exceeding 500 million HUF, while participants in designated subsidy programs, like the Home Start program, will see reduced fees of only 15% of the regular rate. Read more here

Murder and Fraud Case Shocks Újpest: A man has been arrested for the brutal murder of his 52-year-old wife in Újpest, after he used her severed thumb to access her online banking, transferring hundreds of thousands of forints to himself. The 45-year-old suspect, N. Balázs, was apprehended in Slovakia and has since confessed to murder, robbery, and fraud. Read more her

Hungarian Foreign Trade Surplus in July: Hungary experienced a positive foreign trade balance in July, with a surplus of 578 million euros, a notable increase of 589 million euros from the previous year. Exports rose by 3.5% to 12 billion euros, while imports climbed 1.0% to 11.5 billion euros, highlighting a strong performance in both goods and services. Read more here

Hévíz Lake Temperature Concerns Addressed: Recent complaints from visitors about cooler water temperatures at Hévíz Lake have been dismissed by the West Transdanubian Water Authority, which stated that temperature changes correspond to air temperature variations. The lake's surface temperature typically ranges from 21-35 °C depending on the season, and while the central bath is closed due to structural issues, other facilities remain open. Read more here

Tisza Party Proposes VAT Reductions: The Tisza Party plans to lower VAT on healthy foods and firewood from 27% to 5% if elected, alongside exempting medicines from VAT. However, past reductions have shown limited long-term effects on prices, often being absorbed by retailers rather than benefiting consumers, with VAT revenues expected to be significant for the state budget at HUF 8,221 billion. Read more here

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