Serbian authorities found two backpacks containing powerful explosives and detonators near the TurkStream gas pipeline in northern Serbia on Sunday, just days before Hungary's parliamentary elections. The discovery occurred in the Kanjiza district near the village of Tresnjevac, about 20 kilometers from the Hungarian border and a few hundred meters from the pipeline that supplies Russian natural gas to Hungary.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic informed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of the find on Sunday morning, describing the explosives as having "devastating power." Vucic stated that Serbian intelligence services had detected the threat, and authorities are investigating, with Serbia's Military Security Agency mentioning a search for a suspect from a migrant community with military training. Orban responded by convening an emergency meeting of Hungary's National Defence Council and described the incident as a prepared "act of sabotage."

Hungary announced it would deploy troops to guard the pipeline on its territory, enhancing security around critical energy infrastructure. The TurkStream, also known as Balkan Stream in Serbia, delivers between five and eight billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually to Hungary and Slovakia, making it vital for the country's energy supply.

Orban linked the incident to broader efforts to disrupt Hungary's access to affordable Russian energy, stating that "Ukraine has been for years trying to cut off Europe from Russian energy." Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto pointed to recent tensions, including a Ukrainian oil blockade on the Druzhba pipeline since late January and alleged drone attacks on TurkStream in Russia. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry rejected any involvement, calling it "a Russian false-flag operation as part of Moscow’s heavy interference in Hungarian elections."

The timing, on Easter Sunday a week before the April 12 elections, has fueled political debate. Orban's Fidesz party trails opposition leader Peter Magyar's Tisza party in polls after 16 years in power. Magyar accused Orban of "panic-mongering" with Russian assistance, suggesting a staged operation to influence voters, and noted prior warnings from experts about a possible incident. Hungarian security experts have raised concerns about potential false-flag scenarios, though no evidence has confirmed perpetrators yet.

Serbian authorities expect to release initial investigation results soon, potentially shedding light on the plot's origins amid heightened regional tensions.