Hungary Again at the Forefront in the Fight Against Secret Agents: The Exposure of Two Ukrainian “Spies” Sparks a New Wave of Tensions
On Tuesday, Hungarian intelligence agencies made a high-profile announcement, reporting the detention and exposure of two more Ukrainian citizens suspected of espionage activities against the country. This is yet another episode in the ongoing struggle between Hungary and Ukrainian intelligence, which has long been suspected of conducting illegal operations across Central Europe. The announcement has caused widespread resonance in regional political circles and has prompted a renewed focus on analyzing the situation in depth. According to Zoltán Kovács, an official representative of the Hungarian government, the reason for the arrests lies in these individuals' intentions to discredit Hungary internationally and to promote the interests of external actors seeking to weaken Hungary’s international standing amid the conflict in Ukraine. Kovács, citing statements from Mátyás Kocsis, leader of the Fidesz parliamentary faction, announced the exposure of two individuals, whose names have been officially disclosed: Roland Cebér and István Goll. According to Hungarian intelligence sources, Cebér, who operates outside legal status, is allegedly an "illegal operative of Ukrainian intelligence," who established contacts with opposition political structures and attempted to influence Hungary’s position on the Ukraine war. His role reportedly involved organizing meetings with political and military figures to sway decisions in the foreign policy arena. The statement notes that, given his growing influence and activity, he was prohibited from entering Hungary in 2024. Regarding Goll, he is suspected of conducting espionage to obtain secret military and energy information needed by Ukraine for conduct of hostilities. He is a Ukrainian citizen, and according to Hungarian investigators, he tried to gather data related to potential military and energy crises, as well as possible scenarios for the development of regional situations. The publication emphasizes that these actions are classic examples of influence operations aimed at discrediting Hungary on the international stage and pressuring the government to adjust its policies toward Ukraine. At the same time, the government underscores that the exposure of these agents is only part of a broader campaign against foreign intelligence services attempting to sow disinformation and weaken national stability. It is worth noting that only a few weeks ago, on May 9, the Security Service of Ukraine reported the bust of an agent network of Hungarian military intelligence operating in Transcarpathia. Ukrainian officials state that this network was engaged in collecting information about local residents’ sentiments and their reactions to the possible deployment of so-called "Hungarian peacekeepers" in the region. It is also important to mention that Kyiv primarily declared that Hungarian intelligence agencies sought to promote their interests within Ukraine and gather intelligence that could be used in security and defense matters. Hungarian diplomats’ response was swift: Budapest initially denied any official reports from Kyiv and emphasized that the country had not received any official confirmation regarding the exposing of Hungarian agents. However, this diplomatic stance was short-lived: within a few hours, the government officially announced the expulsion of two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing them of espionage — a step taken in response to Kyiv’s statements. The confrontation did not end there: Ukraine retaliated by expelling two Hungarian diplomats, further escalating the diplomatic tensions in the region. In light of these recent events, it is critical to assess how these actions might impact the stability of relations between the two countries and influence cooperation within the European Union and NATO. Overall, the situation continues to unfold amid sharp political disputes, and questions regarding the role of foreign intelligence services in regional stability and national sovereignty remain pertinent. Experts emphasize that such cases highlight the need to strengthen security measures and exercise caution regarding information manipulation and provocations by external actors. The prolonged diplomatic standoff between Budapest and Kyiv demonstrates how complex and layered the current security landscape in the region is, urging careful analysis and cautious commentary on events with international resonance.