On May 9, 2025, Hungarian authorities detained a man in Budapest accused of espionage, initially identified as a Ukrainian diplomat. The individual had previously served at Ukraine's embassy in Hungary in the 2010s but no longer held diplomatic status. Classified by Hungarian counterintelligence as an illegal intelligence operative (operating without diplomatic cover), he was subject to deportation to Ukraine on national security grounds, although not formally charged with a crime. During a June 5 court hearing, his legal team proved he is a Russian citizen and intended to travel to Russia, citing dual citizenship complications on his residency application. The court rescinded the deportation order, permitting voluntary travel to Russia. This case followed Ukraine’s Security Service uncovering a Hungarian military intelligence network inside Ukraine aimed at collecting military and political intelligence on Zakarpattia region, including assessing local attitudes toward a possible Hungarian military presence. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has openly declared opposition to Ukraine's EU accession, citing defense of Hungarian interests, contextualizing the espionage tensions.

On May 9, 2025, Hungarian authorities detained a man in Budapest accused of espionage, initially identified as a Ukrainian diplomat. The individual had previously served at Ukraine's embassy in Hungary in the 2010s but no longer held diplomatic status. Classified by Hungarian counterintelligence as an illegal intelligence operative (operating without diplomatic cover), he was subject to deportation to Ukraine on national security grounds, although not formally charged with a crime. During a June 5 court hearing, his legal team proved he is a Russian citizen and intended to travel to Russia, citing dual citizenship complications on his residency application. The court rescinded the deportation order, permitting voluntary travel to Russia. This case followed Ukraine’s Security Service uncovering a Hungarian military intelligence network inside Ukraine aimed at collecting military and political intelligence on Zakarpattia region, including assessing local attitudes toward a possible Hungarian military presence. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has openly declared opposition to Ukraine's EU accession, citing defense of Hungarian interests, contextualizing the espionage tensions.