Spy war: Fidesz names expelled Ukrainian spies
Tensions continue to rise between Hungary and Ukraine as Fidesz parliamentary group leader Máté Kocsis publicly named the Ukrainian intelligence officers recently expelled from Hungary. At a press conference held with State Secretary Zsolt Barthel-Rúzsa, responsible for overseeing Hungary’s Military National Security Service, the pair outlined what they called ongoing hostile actions by Ukrainian intelligence, prompting Hungary’s retaliatory steps.
Hungary responds to intelligence threats
Kocsis stated that Hungarian intelligence agencies had long observed increasingly intense Ukrainian activity but refrained from taking action to avoid straining bilateral ties. However, he said that a “politically motivated smear campaign” by Ukraine, lacking proper communication through intelligence channels, left Hungary no choice but to respond.
As a result, two Ukrainian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover at Ukraine’s Budapest embassy—Yuroy Kenyichi and Dmytro Kisfalusi—were expelled. A third individual, Serhii Alexandronov, reportedly affiliated with Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) and formerly a diplomat, was also deported without criminal charges following a dramatic apprehension in downtown Budapest by Hungary’s Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK).
According to 444.hu, Kocsis emphasised that Hungary’s actions were based on civilian intelligence and were necessary due to the lack of cooperation from the Ukrainian side. He also mentioned that increased intelligence-gathering efforts have since been launched in response to what he described as a coordinated attempt to influence and discredit Hungary internationally.
Context: A growing spy war
The dispute became public on 9 May, when Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced it had dismantled a Hungarian military spy network in Zakarpattia (Kárpátalja). Two alleged agents were detained, reportedly directed by an officer from Hungarian military intelligence. Ukrainian media later revealed personal details of the detainees and claimed that the male suspect had been recruited in 2021 and activated in 2024 to collect public sentiment data and photograph a missile system.
That same evening, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed the expulsion of the two Ukrainian spies, saying Hungary would no longer tolerate Kyiv’s smear campaigns. Ukrainian officials responded by expelling two Hungarian diplomats.
The feud deepened when government-affiliated voices in Hungary suggested that the release of a video by opposition figure Péter Magyar—featuring Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky speaking about war preparations—was timed in coordination with Ukraine’s announcement. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán later released a dramatic video message alleging that a Ukrainian intelligence operation was aimed at undermining Hungary’s national consultation campaign.
Kocsis also accused former Chief of Defence Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, now affiliated with the opposition Tisza Party, of aiding Ukraine’s narrative. The government has begun analysing his ties to Ukrainian actors and his behaviour during NATO meetings, claiming he did not represent Hungary’s official anti-war stance.
Read more about Ukraine-Hungary relations HERE.
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