Ukraine says it has discovered Hungarian spy network
Ukraine's SBU security service says it has discovered a spy network run by the Hungarian government. The neighbouring country allegedly used the network to gather information on Ukraine's defence. Ukrainian authorities have detained two agents directed by Hungarian military intelligence,
the SBU writes. According to the service, the spies were working against Kyiv's interests. This is the first time such a Hungarian spy network has been discovered. The two suspects are former soldiers from the Ukrainian army, according to the SBU. They were allegedly recruited by a ‘handler’ of Hungarian military intelligence, an intermediary. At least one of them was allegedly given cash and phones with special software for secret communications.
The spies, one, had the task, according to the SBU, of gathering details about Ukrainian air defence and other military capabilities in Transcarpathia, a region bordering Hungary. They also had to study the mood and views among the local population. Among other things, they had to gauge how the civilian population would react to the scenario of Hungarian troops invading the region, writes the Ukrainian service. One of the officers, a 40-year-old man, was tasked with gathering information on troop strength in Transcarpathia and how many transport and combat vehicles there were. According to the SBU, the man also actually conducted reconnaissance to gather information on Ukrainian forces and anti-aircraft systems. He then went to Hungary to report to the middleman. The other suspect is a female ex-military officer. She was tasked with informing the Hungarian secret services about which aircraft and helicopters were in Transcarpathia, and she was also asked for information about the unit in the Ukrainian army where she had served until recently.