Recent explosions at Russia-linked oil refineries in Hungary and Romania have sparked suspicions of sabotage amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The incidents involved MOL’s Százhalombatta refinery in Hungary and Lukoil’s Petrotel plant in Romania, both of which experienced explosions on October 20, halting operations. The Romanian explosion occurred during maintenance in the sewerage system of the Petrotel-Lukoil refinery, which was undergoing a major shutdown, while the Hungarian fire at the Százhalombatta refinery was contained by Tuesday morning, with investigations ongoing. Authorities have not yet identified the causes but are considering sabotage, especially given the near-simultaneous timing of the incidents. The explosions coincide with broader geopolitical developments, including the EU’s plan to phase out Russian energy imports by 2028, with exemptions for Hungary and Slovakia due to infrastructure constraints, and Ukraine’s ongoing drone and pipeline attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Ukraine has been implicated in sabotage activities targeting Russian energy assets and has conducted long-range drone strikes reducing Russia’s refining capacity by approximately 21%. The incidents have heightened concerns over energy security in Central Europe, with Hungary’s MOL considering using strategic reserves to mitigate potential supply disruptions. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban emphasized the importance of investigating the fire thoroughly, as it could impact domestic fuel supply and regional energy stability.