Orbán accuses Ukraine of spying, lashes out at Hungarian opposition
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Getty Images)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says Ukraine has intensified its espionage activity. He also accused the Hungarian opposition of ties with Ukraine, reports 24.hu.
According to the Prime Minister, Hungary experiences large-scale espionage activities. In his words, every country has it, but “there is a normal level of it, and Ukrainian activity in Hungary has increased significantly.”
Orbán claimed that Ukraine is allegedly conducting a disinformation campaign, within which spies believed to be Hungarian are being arrested. He asserted that Hungary has nothing to do with this.
Orbán believes that pro-war, pro-Ukrainian propaganda is operating in Hungary. And, as he claims, Hungary’s opposition parties “have deep ties with the Ukrainian intelligence service.”
“Hungarian opposition parties have ties with Ukraine; this is a problem that still needs to be addressed,” he said.
The Hungarian PM also stated that he had seen a video in which Ukrainian agents provide services and organize visits for Hungarian opposition parties.
Espionage scandal
In May, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that it had uncovered an espionage network of Hungarian military intelligence in Zakarpattia. It included a former Ukrainian soldier and a former female service member.
The spies’ task was to gather information on the military security of the Zakarpattia region, identify vulnerabilities in ground and air defenses, and assess local residents’ sentiments, particularly in a scenario where Hungarian troops enter the region.
Hungary accused Ukraine of propaganda and later expelled two Ukrainian diplomats.
A former Ukrainian diplomat was violently detained in central Budapest on suspicion of alleged espionage. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the incident a “witch hunt” and urged Hungarian authorities to stop the anti-Ukrainian hysteria.
