Ukraine accuses Hungary of spying in Zakarpattia military plot

Kyiv arrests two Ukrainian veterans linked to Hungarian intelligence, escalating tensions over alleged plans for military incursion.

Members of the 'Paragon' division of Ukraine's 'Tymur' military intelligence unit prepare rifles during shooting exercises at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on January 29, 2024. Photo by Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg

By Clarisa Sendy and Anna Fadiah

Ukrainian authorities have arrested two individuals alleged to be part of a Hungarian spy ring operating in western Ukraine, in what Kyiv described as an effort by Hungarian military intelligence to prepare for a potential military incursion. This marks the first time Ukraine has publicly accused a European Union neighbor of covert operations aimed at destabilizing its sovereignty.

According to Ukraine’s state security service (SBU), the network had been set up to gather intelligence about Ukraine’s defenses and public sentiment in Zakarpattia, a western region home to approximately 80,000 ethnic Hungarians. The alleged activities included monitoring military installations and gauging the possible response of local residents and Ukrainian forces if Hungarian troops were to enter the region.

The two suspects, a man and a woman—both Ukrainian citizens and military veterans—were arrested as part of an operation that uncovered what the SBU claimed was a spy network managed by Hungarian military intelligence. The arrests have inflamed already tense relations between Kyiv and Budapest and raised serious concerns about foreign plots to exploit Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia.

Alleged spy network aimed to assess military vulnerabilities

The Ukrainian man detained by the SBU is a 40-year-old from Berehove, a city near Ukraine’s border with Hungary. According to authorities, he was recruited in 2021 and held in "standby mode" until he was activated by his Hungarian handler in September 2024. Since then, he allegedly gathered intelligence on ground and air defense systems, Ukrainian troop deployments, and the availability of weapons on the black market. The SBU claims he even mapped the location of an S-300 air defense system.

Ukrainian officials say the suspect crossed into Hungary under the pretense of transporting a sick relative for medical treatment—a loophole that permits some men to leave the country despite martial law restrictions. During this visit, the agent reportedly met with his handler to exchange intelligence for cash, some of which was used to attempt to recruit additional informants.

The second detainee, a former female soldier, had served in the Ukrainian armed forces until earlier this year. The SBU alleges that she passed information on military aviation activity and detailed data about her previous unit. Both individuals are being held on charges of high treason and could face life imprisonment with asset confiscation if convicted.

Hungary denies allegations, expels Ukrainian diplomats

The Hungarian government dismissed the Ukrainian allegations as baseless and retaliated by expelling two Ukrainian diplomats from Budapest, accusing them of spying. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said during a press conference that "completely unfounded anti-Hungarian propaganda is often used in Ukraine" and accused Kyiv of spreading disinformation.

Szijjártó also posted a video on Facebook asserting that Hungary would no longer tolerate such accusations. “We expelled two spies working under diplomatic cover at the Ukrainian embassy in Budapest,” he stated.

The Hungarian leadership has long had a contentious relationship with Ukraine, particularly over the rights of the Hungarian-speaking minority in Zakarpattia. Budapest has repeatedly clashed with Kyiv on language laws affecting minority education and has used these disputes as leverage in EU discussions over Ukraine’s accession process and military aid.

Broader tensions and geopolitical ambitions

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a frequent critic of Western support for Ukraine, has expressed skepticism about Ukraine’s future and has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Orbán has characterized Ukraine as a “buffer zone” and has warned that Hungary must prepare for postwar scenarios, which some interpret as veiled references to territorial ambitions.

Although mainstream Hungarian officials have not confirmed any such claims, fringe elements in Hungary have been more explicit. Last year, Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland), a far-right Hungarian party, openly declared its intent to claim Zakarpattia should Ukraine lose the war. Its leader, László Toroczkai, even suggested holding a referendum for the region to become a Hungarian protectorate.

Ukrainian security experts have raised concerns that such rhetoric may be more than nationalist posturing. They fear that Hungarian elements could be working in coordination with Russian plans to divide Ukrainian territory among its neighbors in the aftermath of the conflict. This theory has been amplified by pro-Russian figures like Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian oligarch currently residing in Russia. Medvedchuk recently told Russia's state news agency Tass that certain "historic claims" over Ukrainian territories are “justified.”

Espionage tactics and recruitment efforts

The SBU detailed the methods used by the alleged Hungarian spy network in a statement that included surveillance footage, intercepted phone conversations, and confiscated devices. The male suspect was said to have been given a phone embedded with specialized software for covert communication. This device, according to the SBU, was intended to transmit information about SBU personnel and troop casualties to Hungarian intelligence.

Questions posed by the Hungarian handler reportedly included: What military units are present in Zakarpattia? What is the level of local law enforcement preparedness? How is the ethnic Hungarian population moving within or leaving the region? What equipment is accessible through illicit means?

The intelligence sought was not limited to defensive capabilities but also extended to psychological and social dynamics. The agents were allegedly instructed to measure civilian attitudes toward a hypothetical Hungarian military operation, in essence preparing for a potential occupation or conflict scenario.

The SBU concluded that the operation aimed to establish a broader network capable of accessing intelligence from frontline regions. The detained man is said to have attempted to recruit at least two more individuals to further this goal. In its statement, the agency noted that the spy ring hoped to expand its reach into critical regions by offering financial incentives and secure communication tools.

Legal proceedings and international reaction

Both suspects are being prosecuted under Ukrainian law for high treason. The Ukrainian prosecutor's office has indicated that the evidence presented—ranging from recorded conversations to physical devices—supports the charges. If found guilty, they face the harshest penalties available under Ukrainian wartime legislation.

Analysts familiar with Eastern European intelligence dynamics noted that the level of detail in the SBU’s report suggests the claims are credible. “This seems too well documented for the Ukrainians to be bluffing,” said one security expert who asked to remain anonymous. “Hungary has long positioned itself to benefit if Ukraine fragments, and this may be the most concrete example yet of that strategy being put into action.”

While EU leaders have not issued official statements on the case, diplomatic observers believe this episode could further isolate Hungary within the bloc. Already at odds with Brussels over rule-of-law disputes and its close relationship with Moscow, Hungary now faces accusations of undermining the sovereignty of a neighboring EU candidate state.

As tensions between Kyiv and Budapest escalate, the fallout from the spy scandal could have long-term repercussions for regional diplomacy and European unity in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.