In an unprecedented operation, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) dealt a powerful blow to foreign intelligence by exposing a spy network operated by Hungary’s military intelligence, which had been undermining Ukraine’s security for years. This event, the first of its kind in Ukraine’s history, laid bare the audacious plans of a neighboring country that, while making diplomatic gestures, was secretly preparing for a potential invasion of Zakarpattia.

The SBU established that the Hungarian spy network systematically gathered sensitive information about Zakarpattia’s military defenses. Their goals were clear and cynical: to identify weaknesses in the region’s ground and air defenses, assess the strength and equipment of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, and study the sentiments of the local population. Particular attention was paid to hypothetical scenarios involving the entry of Hungarian troops into Ukrainian territory under the guise of a “peacekeeping contingent.”

Counterintelligence documented that the agents were collecting data on:
– the reaction of military and civilian populations to the potential arrival of Hungarian troops;
– the availability of military equipment, aircraft, and helicopters in the region;
– the possibility of purchasing weapons on the black market;
– migration trends within the Hungarian community;
– losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) on the front lines and current developments at the contact line.

This information was intended to serve as the foundation for strategic planning that clearly went far beyond peaceful intentions.

The SBU detained two key figures in the network. The first is a 40-year-old resident of the Berehove district, a former serviceman recruited by Hungarian intelligence back in 2021. After a prolonged “standby mode,” his handler, a career officer of Hungarian military intelligence, “activated” him in September 2024. The traitor was tasked not only with scouting military sites, but also with recruiting informants to build an extensive espionage network.

The second detainee is a former servicewoman of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces, discharged in 2025. Her role was to provide Hungarian intelligence with information about aviation equipment and defense systems at the military unit where she had previously served.

Both agents operated under the close supervision of a Hungarian handler, whose identity has already been established by the SBU. The perpetrators used specialized software for covert communication and regularly traveled to Hungary under false pretenses, such as medical certificates for caring for sick relatives, to report their findings.

The SBU documented numerous instances of espionage. For instance, the Berehove agent personally scouted the region, recording the coordinates of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems and the positions of Defense Forces. During meetings in Hungary, he received cash to fund his activities and recruit new informants. In March 2025, his handler provided him with a phone equipped with encrypted communication software to expand espionage operations, including gathering data from frontline areas.

This network was not merely a group of traitors, but part of a broader Hungarian intelligence plan to penetrate deep into Ukraine’s defense system. The detained operatives acted boldly, believing their actions would go unnoticed. However, the SBU’s counterintelligence worked proactively, tracking their every move.

The detainees have been charged under Part 2 of Article 111 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code—treason committed under martial law. They face life imprisonment with confiscation of property. During searches, phones and other evidence of their subversive activities were seized.

Yet, this scandal extends far beyond a criminal case. The exposure of Hungarian espionage casts doubt on the sincerity of official Budapest, which publicly pledges support for Ukraine while covertly conducting operations that threaten our national security. According to open sources, Hungary’s armed forces consist of just 19,000 soldiers and 12,000 reservists—a force unlikely to mount a large-scale offensive. However, their espionage activities point to ambitions that could destabilize the region.

The SBU continues its investigation to hold all members of the network and their foreign handlers accountable. This operation was not only a triumph for Ukrainian counterintelligence, but also a clear signal: any attempts to undermine Ukraine’s security will be decisively thwarted.

The scandal with Hungary’s spy network raises critical questions: Is Europe prepared to respond to such actions by one of its members? And is it time for Ukraine to reassess relations with a neighbor that appears to be playing a dangerous double game?

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhoZQHoeluc