Ukraine Arrests Two Former Soldiers Accused of Spying for Hungary in Historic Espionage Case

President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers an address on May 8, 2025

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on Friday the arrest of two former Ukrainian military personnel accused of spying for Hungary, marking the first publicly acknowledged Hungarian espionage operation in Ukraine’s history. The suspects were detained in the western region of Zakarpattia, a strategically sensitive area bordering Hungary and home to a significant ethnic Hungarian population.

According to the SBU, the two men are facing charges of treason, a crime punishable by life imprisonment under Ukrainian law. Authorities allege the suspects were gathering intelligence on Ukrainian military activities and transmitting the information to Hungary. The investigation revealed that the operation was overseen by a career officer of Hungary’s military intelligence service, whose identity has reportedly been confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.

The Hungarian intelligence officer allegedly provided the detained individuals with cash payments and a specialized covert communication device to facilitate the operation. The SBU also stated that the officer had made attempts to expand the network by recruiting additional operatives inside Ukraine.

The espionage activity centered around Zakarpattia, a region historically contested between Hungary and Ukraine. While currently under Ukrainian jurisdiction, much of the area was part of Hungary until the end of World War I. Diplomatic tensions between Budapest and Kyiv have frequently flared over issues concerning the Hungarian minority’s rights and language use in the region.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó did not explicitly deny the espionage allegations but dismissed the SBU’s statement as potentially biased. Speaking at a press conference, Szijjártó warned against taking such reports at face value, labeling them “anti-Hungarian propaganda.” He added that the Hungarian government would respond only after receiving official information.

Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has adopted a consistently oppositional stance toward Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The Hungarian government has refused to send military aid to Ukraine, barred the transport of foreign weapons through its territory, opposed EU sanctions on Russia, and resisted efforts to accelerate Ukraine’s European Union membership.

Despite these positions, Orbán has publicly acknowledged that the war began due to Russian aggression. However, he remains widely viewed as the EU leader most closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Hungarian Defense Ministry and the country’s Military National Security Service have not responded to the espionage allegations.

The arrests add another layer of tension to the already strained relationship between Ukraine and Hungary and raise concerns about foreign intelligence operations in conflict-adjacent regions.