Latest news with #Transcarpathia
Russia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state accuses Ukraine of spying
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accused Ukraine of intensifying espionage activities in the EU member nation by leveraging opposition political forces. The claim comes amid a mounting diplomatic rift between the neighboring countries. Long-standing tensions between Hungary and Ukraine escalated earlier this month when both countries expelled two diplomats each after accusing one another of espionage. 'Ukrainian activity has greatly increased in Hungary, and they are organizing operational actions as well,' Orban said on Friday in an interview with Kossuth Radio. He emphasized that the 'Ukrainian intelligence service maintains deep connections' with the Hungarian opposition. Orban claimed that Kiev recently fabricated a story about Hungarian spies, saying it had 'nothing to do with us.' The prime minister accused the Ukrainian network allegedly operating in Hungary of spreading 'pro-war, pro-Ukrainian propaganda,' and imposing 'pro-Ukrainian viewpoints' that run counter to Hungary's national interests. Earlier this month, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed it dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network said to be operating in Transcarpathia, Ukraine's westernmost region. A spokesman said two Ukrainian military veterans – a man and a woman – were detained as part of the operation. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry dismissed the allegations as anti-Hungarian propaganda. In response to Kiev's espionage claims, the Hungarian authorities deported an alleged former Ukrainian spy who Budapest described as 'a serious threat to Hungary's sovereignty.' On Friday, Orban also claimed that Ukrainian agents were attempting to establish contacts with opposition parties in Hungary to influence public opinion in favor of Ukraine's accession to the EU. 'Their intelligence services are conducting operations on Hungarian territory to somehow force the Hungarian government to make such a decision against our interests,' he stressed, adding that Ukraine is using significant funds for these purposes and attempting to 'deploy serious resources.' Tensions between the neighbors have intensified since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, with Hungary refusing to supply weapons or support Kiev's EU bid. Budapest has also maintained ties with Moscow despite pressure from EU top officials. Budapest has also long accused Kiev of discriminating against the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. Hungary has criticized Ukrainian laws that limit education and public administration in minority languages, arguing that they infringe upon the rights of ethnic Hungarians. The Hungarian government has repeatedly criticized the bloc for undermining energy ties with Russia and introducing multiple rounds of sanctions in a bid to support Ukraine. Budapest has argued that the policy has led to a dramatic decline in the competitiveness of EU products, inflicting substantial economic damage.
Russia Today
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Spy row causes diplomatic rift between Hungary and Ukraine
An escalating spy row between Hungary and Ukraine has derailed a planned intergovernmental meeting to discuss strained bilateral relations. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed on Friday that it uncovered a Hungarian military intelligence network operating in the border Transcarpathia region – home to a significant Hungarian minority. Two Ukrainian nationals accused of spying on behalf of Budapest have been detained. On Sunday, Levente Magyar, the Hungarian parliamentary state secretary for foreign affairs, announced the cancelation of a scheduled meeting which he and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina agreed to last month. He explained that 'good-faith constructive negotiations' have become impossible following Kiev's public allegations. Stefanishina urged continued dialogue despite the fallout. The talks were due to take place in Uzhgorod, a Ukrainian city near the Hungarian border, and were set to focus on the rights of ethnic Hungarians living in the country. In response to the espionage claims, Budapest has deported an alleged former Ukrainian spy who government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs described as 'a serious threat to Hungary's sovereignty.' He posted a video showing the arrest of the person, mirroring the SBU's reporting of its crackdown. ‼️Yesterday evening, Hungarian counterterrorism forces (TEK) detained a Ukrainian national in downtown Budapest. The man was subject to an entry and residence ban by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing due to middle-aged individual had previously… Each side has also expelled two diplomats accused of being intelligence operatives. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that Kiev initiated the scandal for propaganda purposes. Hungary, a NATO and EU member, has often been at odds with Kiev and its Western backers regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Budapest has refused to supply weapons to Kiev and has instead called for a ceasefire with Moscow, which has frustrated Ukrainian officials. Budapest also opposes Ukraine's bids to join the EU and NATO. Among other things, it has cited Kiev's treatment of ethnic minorities, including laws that restrict education and cultural rights in minority languages.
Reuters
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Hungary cancels talks with Ukraine on minority rights amid espionage row
BUDAPEST, May 12 (Reuters) - Hungary has cancelled a meeting with Ukraine of experts on minority rights that had been due to take place on Monday, citing a row in which the two neighbours expelled diplomats and accused each other of engaging in espionage. In a statement late on Sunday, Hungarian foreign ministry state secretary Levente Magyar said Hungary had called off the planned meeting in Ukraine because recent developments in bilateral relations do not allow for "constructive talks in such an important and sensitive matter as minority rights". Magyar added that Hungary remained open to dialogue. On Friday Ukraine's SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It was the first time in Ukraine's history that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests, it said. Hungary is a member of the European Union and NATO, which strongly back Ukraine in its war with invading Russian forces, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban is sceptical about Western military aid to Kyiv and retains cordial relations with Russia. Orban's right-wing government has long accused Kyiv of violating the language rights of some 150,000 ethnic Hungarians who live mostly in western Ukraine's Transcarpathia region but the espionage row marks a new low in bilateral relations. Ukraine's SBU security agency said the two suspected agents were former members of its military and had been detained on suspicion of committing state treason. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence. In retaliation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday Hungary had expelled two people he said were working as spies at Ukraine's embassy in Budapest. He said Kyiv's move had been driven by Hungary's opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hungary cancels talks with Ukraine on minority rights amid espionage row
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary has cancelled a meeting with Ukraine of experts on minority rights that had been due to take place on Monday, citing a row in which the two neighbours expelled diplomats and accused each other of engaging in espionage. In a statement late on Sunday, Hungarian foreign ministry state secretary Levente Magyar said Hungary had called off the planned meeting in Ukraine because recent developments in bilateral relations do not allow for "constructive talks in such an important and sensitive matter as minority rights". Magyar added that Hungary remained open to dialogue. On Friday Ukraine's SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It was the first time in Ukraine's history that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests, it said. Hungary is a member of the European Union and NATO, which strongly back Ukraine in its war with invading Russian forces, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban is sceptical about Western military aid to Kyiv and retains cordial relations with Russia. Orban's right-wing government has long accused Kyiv of violating the language rights of some 150,000 ethnic Hungarians who live mostly in western Ukraine's Transcarpathia region but the espionage row marks a new low in bilateral relations. Ukraine's SBU security agency said the two suspected agents were former members of its military and had been detained on suspicion of committing state treason. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence. In retaliation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday Hungary had expelled two people he said were working as spies at Ukraine's embassy in Budapest. He said Kyiv's move had been driven by Hungary's opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine.
Russia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine accuses EU state of spying
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has said it dismantled a Hungarian military intelligence network allegedly operating in Transcarpathia, Ukraine's westernmost region. In a statement on X on Friday, SBU spokesman Artyom Degtyarenko said two Ukrainian military veterans – a man and a woman – were detained as part of the operation. The network, Degtyarenko claimed, was run by Hungary's military intelligence service and tasked with gathering sensitive data on Ukraine's defenses in Transcarpathia. It also reportedly collected information on local socio-political views, including how residents might respond to a potential Hungarian military incursion. 'For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the Security Service has exposed a Hungarian military intelligence network, which carried out espionage activities to the detriment of our state,' Degtyarenko said. The SBU also released a video that purportedly shows the apprehension of the male suspect. Both detainees are in custody and face charges of high treason. If convicted, they could face life in prison and property seizure, the spokesman said. Asked to comment on the situation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the SBU's accusations as anti-Hungarian propaganda. 'In the past three years, it has unfortunately been proven that the Ukraine conflict is partly a propaganda war as well,' he told reporters on Friday. 'It is clear that anti-Hungarian propaganda is often used in Ukraine, which in many cases has been found to have no basis whatsoever.' In a separate Facebook post, Szijjarto said the 'intensifying smear campaign' by the Kiev regime stems from Hungary's refusal to support Ukraine militarily in its conflict with Russia. He warned that Ukraine's EU accession depends partly on Hungary's backing and said Budapest 'won't tolerate' slander from Kiev. Szijjarto added that Hungary expelled two individuals on Friday who he said were Ukrainian agents operating under diplomatic cover at the embassy in Budapest. Tensions between Kiev and Budapest have been growing over the Ukraine conflict, with Hungary refusing to supply weapons or support Ukraine's EU bid while maintaining ties with Moscow despite pressure from Brussels. Budapest has also long accused Kiev of discriminating against the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. Hungary has criticized Ukrainian laws that limit education and public administration in minority languages as infringing upon the rights of ethnic Hungarians.
