Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine escalated over the weekend following reports of an alleged violation of Ukrainian airspace by Hungarian drones. The Hungarian Defense Forces strongly rejects the accusations made by the Ukrainian side, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a statement published on honvedelem.hu on Saturday.
As stated by the Hungarian Defense Forces, they are working closely with their Ukrainian counterparts on a 24-hour hotline basis. If either party conducts a flight near the border, they will notify each other. As a result, it is impossible for flights to take place near the border without prior notification.
The drones’ actual flights and the Ukrainian assumption. Photo: Honvedelem.hu
They also emphasized that on September 26, 2025, no flight activity by the Ministry of the Interior or the Hungarian army was carried out in the areas complained about by Ukraine.
Furthermore, the images published by the Ukrainian General Staff on social media did not contain “any technical details” such as speed or altitude information.
The controversy was sparked by a statement on Friday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He reported that Ukrainian soldiers had registered “presumably Hungarian drones” at the Ukrainian-Hungarian border that had entered Ukraine’s airspace. He quoted Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who suspected that the drones had been attempting to reconnoiter the “industrial potential” of the Ukrainian areas near the border. President Zelenskyy had ordered an immediate review of all data.
I held a military briefing.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office for defense matters Pavlo Palisa were present. Reports were delivered on the front… pic.twitter.com/IgYLR16aj4
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 26, 2025
In response to the allegations, Hungarian Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated that no military action had taken place:
President @ZelenskyyUA’s claim that a Hungarian military drone entered Ukraine is false. The HDF did not carry out any such mission, nor did it receive any instruction or notice. This attempt at disinformation has failed — stays out of the war and remains committed to peace.
— Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky (@SzBobrovniczky) September 27, 2025
The diplomatic dispute escalated with harsh words from top politicians in both countries.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó responded to the Ukrainian President’s claims on Facebook, writing: “President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is becoming obsessed with anti-Hungarian sentiment. Now he is even seeing ghosts.”
After Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha shared an alleged flight route on a map on the X platform, Péter Szijjártó countered: “This is fake! You should not discredit yourself!”
This is fake! You should not discredit yourself! https://t.co/oeJ6YmwKqQ
— Péter Szijjártó (@FM_Szijjarto) September 27, 2025
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also weighed in on X, writing:
Hungary is a member of NATO and the EU. Ukraine would have collapsed long ago without the support of these two organizations.”
He added: “President Zelenskyy, with all due respect, stop harassing us!”
Hungary is a member of NATO and the EU. Ukraine would have collapsed long ago without the support of these two organisations. President @ZelenskyyUa , with all due respect, stop harassing us!
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) September 27, 2025
In their statement, the Hungarian Defense Forces pointed out that the Hungarian-Ukrainian border is the external border of NATO and the EU and that their law enforcement agencies regularly carry out patrols, about which the Ukrainian side is kept informed on an ongoing basis. It is impossible for anyone to fly deep into Ukraine unnoticed, especially up to 20 kilometers from the common state territory, as shown in one of the images published by Ukraine, they stressed.
Via Honvedelem.hu; Featured image: Honvedelem.hu
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