Ukraine Detains Suspected Hungarian Spies in Zakarpattia

Ukraine's SBU security agency has detained two former Ukrainian military personnel accused of espionage for Hungarian military intelligence, marking the first known case of Hungarian spying against Ukraine. The suspects, recruited by a Hungarian handler, allegedly gathered sensitive information on Ukraine's air and ground defenses in the Zakarpattia region, which has a sizable Hungarian minority. The agents reportedly received cash and secret communication equipment to help identify defense vulnerabilities and assess local attitudes toward a potential Hungarian intervention. If convicted, the accused face life imprisonment for treason. Hungary, an EU and NATO member, has denied the allegations and labeled them as Ukrainian propaganda, while maintaining closer ties with Russia than most Western allies. The case has aggravated tensions between Ukraine and Hungary over military aid, minority rights, and broader regional security amid Russia's ongoing invasion.