Ukraine has accused Hungary of operating a covert spy network on its territory, with the aim of preparing for a potential military incursion into Ukraine’s western Zakarpattia region.
As first reported by the Financial Times, Ukraine’s state security service (SBU) on Friday announced the arrest of two alleged Hungarian agents — a man and a woman, both Ukrainian military veterans — who it claims were working under the direction of Hungarian military intelligence.
The SBU says the duo collected sensitive information on Ukrainian military defenses, sociopolitical sentiment, and the presence of law enforcement in Zakarpattia, a region that borders Hungary and is home to a significant Hungarian-speaking minority. The man, a 40-year-old from the city of Berehove, was allegedly recruited as a sleeper agent in 2021 and “activated” in September 2024, while the woman had recently resigned from military service.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the alleged agents were instructed to gather intelligence on everything from local military units and air defense systems to potential black-market weapons and the likely civilian reaction if Hungarian troops entered the region.
“This is the first time Kyiv has formally accused an EU neighbor of plotting hostile action on its soil,” the Financial Times noted, underlining the gravity of the development.
In video evidence released by the SBU, the male suspect is seen handcuffed with his face blurred. Wiretapped conversations allegedly captured communication with a Hungarian handler, and authorities say the pair used covert communication devices and received payments in exchange for intelligence.
While Hungary has yet to issue a formal response, the accusations come amid years of strained relations between Budapest and Kyiv, particularly over the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine and disputes over minority language education.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — known for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his opposition to EU military aid to Ukraine — has frequently accused Kyiv of “Hungarophobia” and has threatened to obstruct Ukraine’s EU accession bid. Orbán has described Ukraine as merely a “buffer zone” between Russia and Europe, suggesting that Hungary must prepare for a range of postwar outcomes.
Though some Hungarian analysts remain skeptical that Budapest would directly pursue a military incursion, far-right political rhetoric in Hungary has fueled concerns. Last year, the fringe nationalist party Mi Hazánk (“Our Homeland”) called for Zakarpattia to become a Hungarian “protectorate” in the event of Ukraine’s collapse.
The Financial Times also pointed out that pro-Russian voices, such as Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, have openly promoted the idea of neighboring countries laying claim to parts of Ukraine after the war. In a February interview, Medvedchuk told Russian media outlet Tass that such historical claims were “justified.”
Ukrainian intelligence claims the man arrested had scouted the location of a Ukrainian S-300 air defense system and later traveled to Hungary using documentation that falsely claimed he was transporting a sick relative for treatment. During meetings in Hungary, the man reportedly received further instructions and secure equipment to expand the spy network, which aimed to recruit new informants.
Both suspects face charges of high treason and, if convicted, could be sentenced to life imprisonment with the confiscation of personal property.
“The SBU statement seems too well documented for the Ukrainians to be bluffing,” said one unnamed analyst quoted by the Financial Times. “Hungarians have aimed for this for years: Ukraine falling apart as part of a Russian strategy — and be rewarded for their help with territorial gains.”
As EU and NATO leaders react to the developments, the accusations could intensify scrutiny on Hungary’s alignment with Russia and further strain its relations with Brussels and fellow EU members.
