Hungarian spy ring uncovered on Ukrainian soil
The spy ring is said to have been controlled from Hungary and to have worked against Ukraine's interests. Two spies have been arrested, the domestic intelligence service in Kyiv announced.
The Hungarian spy ring, which the Ukrainian domestic intelligence service (SBU) claims to have uncovered, is said to have spied on military facilities in southwestern Ukraine . It is the first time in Ukraine's history that a Hungarian espionage network has been discovered operating against the interests of the leadership in Kyiv.
Control from HungaryThe SBU announced that two suspected spies had been arrested. They were subordinate to the Hungarian military intelligence service and were controlled from Hungary . There was no immediate comment from the government in Budapest .
Hungary is a member of the European Union and NATO , both of which support Ukraine in its war against Russia . At the same time, however, Hungary has a pro-Russian prime minister, Viktor Orban , who has repeatedly expressed skepticism about Western military aid to Ukraine. Despite the large-scale Russian invasion that began in February 2022, Orban maintains good relations with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
The SBU stated that the two suspects were former members of the Ukrainian military. They were recruited by a senior officer of the Hungarian military intelligence service and provided with cash and special equipment for secret communications. The agents were tasked with passing on details about Ukrainian anti-aircraft batteries and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathian region to their superior.
Transcarpathia is located in the extreme southwest of Ukraine and also borders Hungary.
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