Ukraine allegedly catches Hungarian spies monitoring public opinion on potential march-in
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) revealed today that they caught two spies working for the Hungarian intelligence in Transcarpathia, Ukraine’s westernmost region with a Hungarian population of about 70-80,000. Their task, allegedly, was to monitor public opinion in case of a Hungarian military march-in and collect information about the defence capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces there. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said all such information should be regarded as part of the Ukrainian propaganda, which regularly contains anti-Hungarian elements.
Ukraine caught Hungarian spies, says SBU
According to Szabad Európa, the SBU arrested a woman and a man for gathering data for the Hungarian military intelligence in the Transcarpathia region. Transcarpathia is the westernmost region of Ukraine with a large Hungarian population concentrated near the Hungarian-Ukrainian border. The territory was part of the Kingdom of Hungary for 900 years. The last time Hungarian troops were there was in 1944, since the territory was reconquered by the Hungarian forces in 1939, following the dissolution and German occupation of Czechoslovakia.
The SBU told the media that the agents’ task was to gather data on Transcarpathia’s (Zakarpattia) military defence capabilities, search for vulnerabilities, and analyse how locals would react if Hungarian troops entered the region.
The Hungarian government always stood by the territorial integrity of Ukraine, no Hungarian officials ever said anything about entering Transcarpathia by force. They only criticised Ukraine’s discriminatory policies towards its ethnic minorities, including the Hungarians, who are indigenous to the country. However, they never spoke about military solutions. Instead, they wanted to continue the relevant talks with Kyiv and made solving the issue a prerequisite for supporting Ukraine’s EU accession.
Only some Russian leaders, e.g. Dmitry Medvedev, talked about the possibility of “giving” Transcarpathia to Hungary if Ukraine were partitioned between its neighbours. Those plans included even Poland, one of the biggest and strongest supporters of Ukraine.
There was an entire spy network, Ukrainian intelligence states
Therefore, it is strange that the SBU says they were able to uncover an entire spy network in Transcarpathia gathering military data and feeding the Hungarian intelligence services with it. The 40-year-old man they took into custody was a soldier before, and, based on the SBU, he became part of the Hungarian intelligence in 2021. However, he did not get a task until 2024 when he had to gather information about the positions of the Ukrainian military and the S-300 air defence system in the region. SBU said they had evidence of that activity.
Furthermore, SBU says the man recruited two new agents from among the residents. Their task would have been to submit reports from the front.
The woman they took into custody worked for the SBU but left service in 2025. She authored reports about the positions of the military aircraft in Transcarpathia, the SBU said. Here is a video shared by the SBU in which you can hear the man talking in Hungarian from 4:36:
The Hungarian government’s reaction
For now, only Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó reacted during his joint press conference with the British Liam Fox. He called the allegations of the SBU part of the Ukrainian anti-Hungarian propaganda and added that they did not receive official information about the issue.
If they are found guilty, the man and the woman may face a life sentence in prison for high treason committed during war.
Related article: VIDEO: Heavy police presence, roadblock in Budapest due to counter-terrorism operation – UPDATE: Action may be part of Hungary-Ukraine “spy war”
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Fidesz works for Russia and Hungary has become Little Russia. Hungary does not belong to the West anymore. It is not a European ally. Hungary poses a constant ongoing threat to the common security of Europe and must be ejected from NATO as soon as possible. Should Fidesz be removed from office in 2026 we can hope that this will change but this depends in large part on Hungarians themselves to decide whether they are Europeans or not. Nothing said by Szijjarto or the rest of that group of Russian bandits can ever be trusted.
Who wants to be part of a corrupt, leftist traiterous Western part?
Seems like Larry is a bot and doesn’t understand life.
Larry is factual in his comments. Leftist, compared to who? Orbán is the biggest leftist of all. I suppose we need to define leftism and rightism. Leftism = big government, right= small. The EU and Orban are both left sided. Orban is worse!!!
You must understand that the EU in its current dictatorial form must be ELIMINATED.
Same goes for the traitors who support nazi-Ukraine and the Western traitor-countries like Germany, France, Holland and UK.
All Hungarian should leave these countries as they are not seen as equal.
They are just there to do the dirty jobs
Marc Van Ranst – so ignorant about your own f-k-n history. Hungary, by definition, by everything it does and stands for is the Nazi regime, as is Putler. Putler will die just as his predecessor, Hitler.
Larry, it is the EU that is behaving more and more like Russia, imprisoning or removing highly popular political opponents, imposing restrictions on political speech and taking the side of migrants over citizen.
If that is the type of economic union you want, then we want nothing to do with you because you support implemented fascism.
I agree with you 100%, except that I’m a USA born citizen living in Hungary with dual citizenship. We are fighting this regime every single day. If we are abandoned, –oh man, it’s not going to be a good ride. I have no way back to the USA, which is also a fascist world now.
“Ukrainian propaganda, which regularly contains anti-Hungarian elements.”
Of course, the Hungarian propaganda is free of anti-ukranian elements. At least is what sijjarto believes….🙄
It’s probably a bit early to jump to conclusions about what has occurred. Given how complicated the issue can be, it will take some time to play out. It’s been rumored for a few days already, but more time will reveal what the “official” accusations are, and what the “official” denials are. Then we amateur political analysts can comment. Either way, it has perked the ears of both NATO and the EU.
It really isn’t anything new for Hungary to trade political barbs with it’s neighbors. I’ve lived here for almost 30 years. During that time Hungary has mixed it up with every one of its neighbors; even Austria.
These aren’t “political barbs” but completely hostile acts by what only could be seen as an enemy contemplating assisting Russian attack and contemplating Hungarian invasion. This is serious military espionage of Ukraine’s air defence systems and troop and equipment locations. To seek Hungarian minority receptivity to Hungarian invasion is nothing but the act of an enemy. There is no way this can ever be swept under the carpet. This story is likely the beginning of an unravelling of the Fidesz government as a Russian ally.
Better shush…as all you are saying is just fake news, like the news outlets in the West.
Such a young, naive boy like you should go back to mommie.
Big mouths will be punished, remember that and as we will destroy EU, we will come after the traitors as well.
Europe is big enough for 200 million people. All the rest can be deported or used as heating material in wintertime
Fascist slime was dealt with before and will be dealt with again. There is no room for them in Europe. The twisted psychology of your post is repulsive to normal people.
Daily News Hungary, could you please remove these comments that incite deadly violence?
If our Politicians “always stood by the territorial integrity of Ukraine”, then why did Mr. Orbán post footage of himself on Facebook showing him wearing a scarf depicting Greater Hungary during a match between Hungary and Greece in November of 2022?
To @grumpyoldmans point – too early to judge, lets see how this shakes out.
I can’t be the only one who is fed up to the back teeth of Ukraine.
I don’t want a Forever War. I don’t want to keep financing Ukraine. I don’t want the relentless propaganda. And most of all, I don’t want the filthy corruption that is endemic to the entire nasty episode.
Those bleating “Slava Ukraini” need to put their ass where their mouth is. Eff off to Ukraine and fight for them if it’s that important to you!