The new Hungarian government of Péter Magyar is preparing to dismantle a Russian intelligence network in Budapest, a move that would fundamentally change the balance of power in Central Europe. Counterintelligence has already drawn up a confidential list for the dismissal and expulsion of more than a dozen officers of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU), operating under diplomatic cover, according to the Robert Lansing Institute.
This step marks a complete break with the policy of the previous government of Viktor Orbán, which after 2022 had refused mass expulsions and limited itself to rare, discreet actions, such as the expulsion of GRU officer Tarakanov in 2024 and SVR officer Sushkov in May 2026. The new administration is demonstrating a shift toward a hardline approach to countering Kremlin influence.
Previously, Budapest had already summoned the Russian ambassador after drone strikes near Transcarpathia, and is now preparing to close a major security gap on the eastern flank of the EU and NATO. The dismantling of the espionage hub would cut off intelligence leaks to the Kremlin and deprive Russia of the ability to conduct subversive operations in Hungary.
The expected expulsions are significant far beyond bilateral relations, as they would eliminate one of the most Russia-friendly intelligence environments within the EU and NATO. Under Orbán, Hungary had a reputation as a soft corridor for Russian operations in Europe. While other Western countries carried out mass expulsions of Russian diplomats, Budapest avoided systemic action to minimize confrontation with Moscow. This allowed the SVR and GRU to turn Budapest into a regional coordination hub. From there, intelligence was gathered against NATO and EU institutions, sanctions evasion was monitored, influence networks were developed, and covert logistics were supported across Central Europe and the Balkans. As Russian operational space in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and the Baltic states shrank significantly, Budapest became an invaluable transit point, financial hub, and safe meeting place for Moscow.
Now Magyar intends to fundamentally change this situation. From NATO’s perspective, the counterintelligence purge would restore trust in Budapest, from which several allies had previously reduced intelligence sharing due to leak risks. For Russia, the loss of this base would reduce operational flexibility in Europe and force intelligence services to relocate functions to Serbia or Austria. The Kremlin would likely respond with cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and economic pressure in the energy sector.
Magyar’s decisive anti-Russian turn also promises to be the most important positive shift in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. For years, relations between Kyiv and Budapest were constrained by three factors: Hungary’s ties with Moscow, disputes over the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, and Ukraine’s concerns that the neighboring country served as a base for Russian influence. The dismantling of the espionage network would demonstrate to Kyiv that Hungary is moving away from balancing policies and toward a clear Euro-Atlantic orientation.
