Latest news with #spyNetwork
CNA
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Ukraine says it has uncovered Hungarian spy network, Hungary expels two in response
KYIV: Ukraine's SBU security agency said on Friday (May 9) it had uncovered a spy network run by the Hungarian state to obtain intelligence about its defences, with Hungary responding to what it called "propaganda" by expelling two people at the Ukrainian embassy in Budapest. The SBU said in a statement 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 part of the European Union and NATO, two blocs with which Kyiv is closely allied in Russia's war in Ukraine, but relations between Kyiv and Budapest have often been fraught. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders, who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The SBU said the two suspects were former members of Ukraine's military, were in custody and had been given notice they were under suspicion of committing state treason. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence, and given cash and special equipment for secret communication. The SBU said the alleged agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defence batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southern Ukraine. Ukraine is home to around 150,000 ethnic Hungarians, most of them in the Transcarpathia region. Orban's government and Kyiv have clashed over the community's language rights. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told a press conference he regarded the move as Ukrainian propaganda that should be treated with caution before announcing that Budapest had expelled from Hungary two people it had identified as spies. "We do not tolerate that Ukraine should continuously launch such defamatory acts against Hungary and the Hungarian people," Szijjarto said in a Facebook video. "Therefore, today we have expelled from Hungary two spies working under diplomatic cover at Ukraine's embassy in Budapest," he said. Szijjarto accused Ukraine of often using anti-Hungarian propaganda that proved unfounded and said Ukraine's latest move was driven by Hungary's opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine as it fends off Russia's three-year-old invasion. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Hungarian government. Hungary is part of the European Union and NATO, two blocs with which Ukraine is closely allied in the war it is fighting with Russia. However, relations between the two countries have often been fraught. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The SBU said the two suspects are former members of the Ukrainian military. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence, and given cash and special equipment for secret communication. The agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defence batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southern Ukraine, which borders Hungary.
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Budapest expels 2 after Ukraine says it uncovered Hungarian spy network
Ukraine's SBU security agency said on Friday it had uncovered a spy network run by the Hungarian state to obtain intelligence about its defences, with Hungary responding to what it called 'propaganda' by expelling two people at the Ukrainian embassy in Budapest. Advertisement The SBU said in a statement 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 part of the European Union and Nato , two blocs with which Kyiv is closely allied in Russia's war in Ukraine, but relations between Kyiv and Budapest have often been fraught. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine . He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin , putting him at odds with most other EU leaders, who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 03:16 Hungary's Orban meets Xi during self-styled Ukraine 'peace mission' panned by West Hungary's Orban meets Xi during self-styled Ukraine 'peace mission' panned by West The SBU said the two suspects were former members of Ukraine's military, were in custody and had been given notice they were under suspicion of committing state treason.
News24
09-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
Hungary spy network found working for Russia in Ukraine, say spooks
Ukraine's SBU security agency said on Friday it had uncovered a spy network being run by the Hungarian state to obtain intelligence about Ukraine's defences. In a statement, the SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It said it was the first time in the history of Ukraine that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Hungarian government. Hungary is part of the European Union and NATO, two blocs with which Ukraine is closely allied in the war it is fighting with Russia. READ | Ukraine urges Russia to 'give diplomacy a chance' as Putin three-day ceasefire takes effect However, relations between the two countries have often been fraught. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders, who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The SBU said the two suspects are former members of the Ukrainian military, adding they are in custody, and have been given notice they are under suspicion of committing state treason. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence and given cash and special equipment for secret communication. The SBU added the agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defence batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southern Ukraine, which borders Hungary. Ukraine is home to around 150 000 ethnic Hungarians, most of them in the Transcarpathia region. Kyiv and Orban's government have clashed in the past over the rights of this community to use their native language.
Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ukraine uncovers Hungarian spy network
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. (EPA Images pic) KYIV : Ukraine's SBU security agency said on Friday it had uncovered a spy network being run by the Hungarian state to obtain intelligence about Ukraine's defences. In a statement, the SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It said it was the first time in the history of Ukraine that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Hungarian government. Hungary is part of the EU and Nato, two blocs with which Ukraine is closely allied in the war it is fighting with Russia. However, relations between the two countries have often been fraught. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The SBU said the two suspects are former members of the Ukrainian military. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence, and given cash and special equipment for secret communication. The agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defence batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southern Ukraine, which borders Hungary.
ABC News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Ukraine says it uncovered Hungarian spy network, Moscow and Kyiv trade accusations over ceasefire breaches
Ukraine's SBU security agency says it has uncovered a spy network being run by Hungary. The claims come after Kyiv announced that Russia had broken its ceasefire truce. The security agency said on Friday, local time, the network was working to collect intelligence on Kyiv's defences. In a statement, the SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It said it was the first time in the history of Ukraine that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Hungarian government. Hungary is part of the European Union and NATO, two blocs with which Ukraine is closely allied in the war it is fighting with Russia. However, relations between the two countries have often been fraught, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban being sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. He has also kept relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The SBU said the two suspects are former members of the Ukrainian military who were recruited by Hungarian intelligence, and given cash and special equipment for secret communication. The agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defence batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southern Ukraine, which borders Hungary. Ukraine's foreign minister also said Russia had repeatedly violated its own three-day ceasefire hours after it began, and called the initiative a "farce", while Moscow said Kyiv had continued fighting. There was a drop-off in combat activity after the ceasefire announced by Mr Putin came into force in the early hours of Thursday, with a respite in the drone and missile attacks. "Predictably, Putin's 'Parade ceasefire' proves to be a farce," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X, referring to the truce which coincides with a May 9 parade on Moscow's Red Square to commemorate the end of World War II. "Russian forces continue to attack across the entire frontline," Mr Sybiha wrote. "From midnight to midday, Russia committed 734 ceasefire violations and 63 assault operations, 23 of which are still ongoing." He said Kyiv was notifying the United States and European states about Russia's actions. The Russian defence ministry, cited by Interfax news agency, said that Ukraine, in turn, had carried out 488 attacks on Russian targets and twice tried to break through the border in the Kursk region. The two sides did not immediately comment on each other's battlefield reports. Reuters
