Ukrainian authorities have exposed what they allege to be a Hungarian military intelligence network operating on Ukrainian soil, marking a first in the nation’s modern history of counterintelligence, according to an official statement from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Friday.
The SBU claims it has identified and dismantled an espionage network allegedly working on behalf of Hungary’s military intelligence. This is the first time Ukraine has officially accused a European Union member of conducting military espionage against it.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the SBU described the operation as a significant breach of national security. “This is the first case in the modern history of the country when espionage activities of a foreign intelligence service from an EU country to the detriment of Ukrainian security have been officially recorded,” the statement read.
Two individuals have been detained as part of the investigation. One of them, a 40-year-old former Ukrainian soldier from Berehove district in the western Zakarpattia region near the Hungarian border, was reportedly recruited by Hungarian intelligence in 2021.
According to the SBU, the man was tasked with gathering detailed intelligence on Ukrainian military positions in the region, including the coordinates of air defence systems and information about weapon availability on the black market. He allegedly sought to recruit additional informants to broaden the network.
The investigation revealed that the man crossed into Hungary in 2024 under the guise of caring for an ailing parent. During a meeting with his alleged Hungarian handler — a career intelligence officer — he reportedly received payment and a mobile device with encrypted communication capabilities. He is said to have transmitted sensitive data regarding troop movements, military logistics, and Ukrainian losses.
The second suspect is a former servicewoman in Ukraine’s armed forces. Authorities allege that she passed classified information regarding her unit’s aircraft and defence infrastructure to the foreign network.
Both individuals were apprehended at their residences, where Ukrainian security forces seized mobile phones and additional evidence. The SBU has released a video of the operation on YouTube. While most of the footage is in Ukrainian, Hungarian can reportedly be heard from the third minute onward.
The Hungarian government has not yet commented on the allegations. The incident is likely to strain diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries, which have already experienced tensions over minority rights and Ukraine’s EU integration process.
