Ukraine, Hungary Expel Diplomats Over Spy Ring Accusations

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) announced the detention of two individuals accused of espionage on behalf of Hungary, marking the first exposure of a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in Ukraine. The detained agents, both former soldiers, were tasked with gathering military intelligence on Ukrainian air and ground defenses in the Zakarpattia region near the Hungarian border, as well as assessing local sentiment toward a potential Hungarian peacekeeping force. In response, Hungary expelled two Ukrainian diplomats from its embassy in Budapest, accusing them of spying under diplomatic cover and condemning what it described as ongoing smear campaigns and anti-Hungarian propaganda by Ukraine. The diplomatic expulsions reflect deepening tensions between Kyiv and Budapest, exacerbated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's opposition to EU aid for Ukraine and resistance to Ukraine’s EU accession. Ukrainian officials emphasized the seriousness of the espionage under martial law, with the detained agents facing life imprisonment if convicted. Both sides have accused the other of misinformation and provocations, underscoring the fragile state of Ukraine-Hungary relations amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.