Ukraine Names Hungarian Intelligence Officer Allegedly Behind Spy Network

Kyiv has identified Zoltan Andre, a staff member of Hungary’s military intelligence, as the alleged leader of an espionage network operating in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast. The network was dismantled in 2025, and the revelation of Andre’s identity comes as tensions rise between Ukraine and Hungary amid a heated election campaign in Hungary.

Details of the Espionage Operation

According to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), Zoltan Andre oversaw a network tasked with collecting information on Ukraine’s defenses and the political climate in the westernmost region of the country . The objectives included gathering intelligence on air defense systems and assessing local residents’ potential reaction to a possible Hungarian military deployment in the region .

The SBU first announced the disruption of the network in May 2025, detaining two Ukrainians suspected of conducting espionage on behalf of Budapest . This marked the first such incident between the two countries, leading to a reciprocal expulsion of diplomats .

Andre’s Background and Activities

The SBU stated that it had identified Andre as the overseeing officer in 2025 but withheld his identity until now, coinciding with increased rhetoric from Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban towards Kyiv .

Prior to his operations targeting Ukraine, Andre reportedly conducted intelligence activities in Georgia between 2016 and 2020 while operating under diplomatic cover . In 2021, he began recruiting spies, focusing on former or active-duty military and law enforcement personnel . He also approached local residents seeking Hungarian citizenship, offering financial incentives and other benefits in exchange for cooperation .

The SBU also alleges that Andre held meetings with agents in Hungary and coordinated their activities within Ukraine . He reportedly recruited a former serviceman from the Berehove district in 2021, placing him on standby before activating him in September 2024 to conduct espionage in Zakarpattia .

Ongoing Investigation

The SBU stated that counterintelligence efforts are ongoing to identify all members of the Hungarian agent network operating against Ukraine . The agency urges citizens to report any suspicious activity or offers to the SBU .