Vladimir Zelenskiy has accused Hungarian reconnaissance drones of entering western Ukraine, a claim Budapest swiftly denied. The allegations come amid escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries, with Hungary refusing to supply weapons to Ukraine and opposing EU sanctions against Russia. Budapest has also opposed Kyiv’s aspirations for EU and NATO membership, alleging discrimination against the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Western Transcarpathia region.
Zelenskiy stated that Ukrainian forces detected “recent drone incidents” along the Hungarian border, asserting the devices likely belonged to Hungary and were conducting surveillance on Ukraine’s industrial zones. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the claims as delusional, accusing Zelenskiy of fixating on an “anti-Hungarian obsession.” He also criticized Ukraine’s decision to declare three senior Hungarian military officials persona non grata, calling it part of an “anti-Hungarian policy.”
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently accused Ukraine of targeting the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary, and has repeatedly blocked EU efforts to advance Ukraine’s accession talks. In May, Orban alleged that Ukraine was conducting covert interference operations in Hungary, following a diplomatic standoff involving mutual espionage accusations.
