Spy plot uncovered: Ukraine detains two Hungarian citizens

Ukraine, on Friday, May 9, 2025, announced the discovery of what it claims to be a Hungarian Government-backed spy network operating along the two countries’ shared border.

According to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), two individuals accused of spying for Hungary were apprehended.

They were said to be gathering intelligence on Ukrainian defense systems.

This marks the first time in Ukraine’s history, the SBU said, that a Hungarian military intelligence operation has been uncovered on Ukrainian soil.

The SBU stated that the spies had been collecting data related to:

• air defense system locations,
• the number of law enforcement personnel and vehicles,
• and public sentiment in the Zakarpattia region – a western Ukrainian area that borders Hungary.

The intelligence, the SBU claimed, was intended to help Hungary predict local responses in case of a Hungarian military action in the region.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, responded to the accusations with caution.

He said such claims should be treated as propaganda until official information is provided.

Speaking on Hungarian television channel ATV, Szijjarto noted that Ukraine frequently uses anti-Hungarian rhetoric, which he argued often lacks factual basis.

While he did not outright deny the allegations, he emphasized that no official communication had yet been received from the Ukrainian side.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has consistently aligned himself more closely with Russia since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine over three years ago.

This is not withstanding the fact that Hungary is part of both NATO and the European Union, two staunch allies of Ukraine,

Orban has blocked EU financial aid packages to Ukraine, resisted sanctions on Russian energy, and opposed Ukraine’s bid for EU membership.

The SBU claimed that the suspects, a man and a woman formerly in the Ukrainian military, were under the direction of a Hungarian intelligence officer.

The male suspect allegedly crossed into Hungary to report to his handler, receiving payments and a communications device in return.

Although the SBU did not specify how the espionage network was discovered, it noted that both individuals were arrested at their homes.

During searches, Ukrainian authorities seized mobile phones and other devices reportedly confirming their spying activities.

The detainees are facing charges of treason, a crime that could result in life imprisonment.

The SBU made no claims that the espionage was carried out on behalf of Russia.

However, the nature of the intelligence being gathered, particularly related to military infrastructure, raises serious concerns.

Ben Wallace, the former UK Defence Secretary, told an online radio, that this is not the first time Ukraine has accused Hungary of subversive actions.

However, he emphasized that the military relevance of the data this time made the incident particularly grave.

Wallace questioned who the end recipient of the intelligence might be, implying that Russia could potentially benefit from it.

He further stated that if NATO values are being compromised from within, the alliance should engage in serious discussions about the behavior of its members.

Although Zakarpattia is far from the active front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, any breach of military secrecy remains a significant concern.

According to media reports, Russia regularly targets Ukrainian infrastructure and defense positions with missiles and drones.

This has supposedly made any intelligence about air defense systems strategically valuable.

Complicating matters further, the announcement of this alleged spy network came on the same day that two leaders attended Russia’s Victory Day Parade in Moscow—an event showcasing Russia’s military strength.

One of them was Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico,  while the othe other was another leader from a NATO country.

This act of solidarity with Russia from a NATO leader, alongside Hungary’s alleged espionage, sends troubling signals to the alliance.

Hungary and Ukraine have also had a long-standing dispute over the cultural and language rights of the Hungarian minority in Zakarpattia.

This includes around 150,000 ethnic Hungarians, according to the 2001 census.

Ukraine has previously accused Hungary of issuing Hungarian passports to ethnic Hungarians in the region.

This reportedly led to the expulsion of several Hungarian diplomats during Wallace’s time as UK Defence Secretary.

These developments underscore the broader challenges NATO faces in maintaining unity while confronting Russia’s aggression.

It also underscores the influence Moscow continues to wield among some of its member states.

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