Hungary claims Ukraine is spying

(MENAFN) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Ukraine of increasing spying activities within Hungary by collaborating with opposition political groups, escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries. Earlier this month, both nations expelled diplomats after mutual accusations of espionage.

In an interview with Kossuth Radio, Orban said Ukrainian intelligence operations in Hungary have intensified, highlighting close ties between Ukrainian agents and Hungary’s opposition parties. He dismissed Kiev’s recent allegations of Hungarian spying as fabricated and unrelated to Hungary.

Orban further claimed that Ukrainian networks in Hungary are promoting pro-war and pro-Ukrainian propaganda, pushing viewpoints contrary to Hungarian national interests. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced it had dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in the Transcarpathia region, detaining two Ukrainian military veterans in connection with the operation. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry rejected these claims as anti-Hungarian propaganda and expelled a suspected Ukrainian spy deemed a threat to Hungary’s sovereignty.

Orban also alleged that Ukrainian agents are trying to influence Hungarian opposition parties to sway public opinion in favor of Ukraine’s EU membership bid. He accused Kiev of deploying substantial resources to pressure Hungary into supporting this, despite it going against Budapest’s interests.

Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have soured since the war in Ukraine intensified, with Hungary refusing to supply arms or back Ukraine’s EU aspirations. Budapest continues to maintain relations with Moscow despite EU pressure and has accused Kiev of discriminating against the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia by restricting minority language rights in education and governance.

Hungary has also criticized EU policies targeting Russia, arguing that sanctions have harmed the competitiveness of European products and inflicted economic damage.

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