KYIV — Reconnaissance drones from Hungary crossed into Ukraine, the government in Kyiv said Friday.
“The commander in chief reported on recent drone incidents along the Ukrainian-Hungarian border. Ukrainian forces recorded violations of our airspace by reconnaissance drones, which are likely Hungarian,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement after a government meeting.
“Preliminary assessments suggest they may have been conducting reconnaissance on the industrial potential of Ukraine’s border areas. I instructed that all available information be verified and that urgent reports be made on each recorded incident,” Zelenskyy added, providing no further details.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó hit back in a post on X: “President Zelenskyy is losing his mind to his anti-Hungarian obsession. He’s now starting to see things that aren’t there.”
Ukrainian-Hungarian relations have deteriorated in recent months, as Budapest persists in blocking Ukraine’s EU accession. Last month, Kyiv’s forces started bombing the Druzhba oil pipeline, which fuels Budapest with Russian energy.
In response, Hungary banned Robert Brovdi — a key Ukrainian commander — from entering the country. Ukraine responded by imposing an entry ban on three high-ranking Hungarian military officials.
“Our mirror response to Hungary’s earlier baseless entry ban for our military officials. Hungary’s every act of disrespect will be met with adequate response, especially disrespect for our military,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Friday.
Szijjarto responded by saying Ukraine has “carried out an anti-Hungarian policy for a decade.”
