SBU informed, that Hungary has hired 2 inhabitants of the Zakarpackie region, specifically the area of the city of Berehowo, to spy on military facilities specified as air defense, as well as to measure the safety and temper of the local population in the event of the arrival of Hungarian "peace" forces. As a consequence Hungary expelled Ukrainian diplomats, claiming they were spies, and Ukraine responded the same way.
Budapest had already made statements on the Hungarian-speaking population of Zakarpacia and accused Kiev of its repression. There were frequently concerns or accusations that Hungary wanted to take over the territory or part of it, which was seen as a political game alternatively than a real threat.
However, this operation — dangerous and based on misconceptions — indicates that action in the region is seriously being considered in the intelligence and political circles of Hungary.
In order to realize why Hungary should spy on Zakarpacie, it is crucial to realize issues related to its language policy and history.
Hungarians in Transcarpathia
Zakarpata lies in southwestern Ukraine and is the only region bordering 4 countries: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. It is 1 of the most linguistic and culturally diverse regions of Ukraine. It has been inhabited for centuries by Ukrainians/Rusini, Hungarians, Poles, Slovaks, Jews, Roma and another groups specified as Huculi, Lemkos and others.
Zakarpacie was part of Austro-Hungarian until the Treaty of Trianon was signed, later Czechoslovakia, and then the short-lived Carpathian Republic led by Ukrainians in 1939 and Hungary in 1939-45.
Later the USSR annexed this region to the Ukrainian russian Republic. This led to demographic change, which resulted in many Russians and Russian speakers settling in the region. Following the collapse of the USSR, despite any proposals for a referendum, the region remained Ukrainian territory within the limits ratified in 1991.
Recent studies show that 13 percent of the population of Zakarpacia are Hungarian or Hungarian speakers. They focus on certain “divisions” – specified as Berehovo, Mukachevo and any cities.
Hungary has issued passports to people who talk Hungarian in the region, but they frequently besides have Ukrainian passports. There are Ukrainian, Hungarian, Russian, Romanian, Polish and Slovak languages in many localities.
PAPParticipants of the beginning of the fresh border crossing of Welyka Palad-Nagyhodos on the border between Ukraine and Hungary, Zakarpata, Ukraine, 8 April 2025.
Reality in Transcarpathia
Ukraine had different language policies. Ukrainian was declared state language in 1989. In 1996, the Constitution of Ukraine stated that Russian and number languages would proceed to be protected.
In the mediate of the first decade of the 21st century, under the regulation of president Viktor Yushchenko, more language regulations were introduced to advance Ukrainian language in cinematography, state services and another areas.
In 2012, under the regulation of the overthrown president Viktor Yanukovych, actions were taken to give the position of authoritative Russian language and number languages of Ukraine, but they did not come to fruition. After Euromaidan, the interest in promoting Ukrainian language grew in order to decision distant from the "Russian world".
However, in 2019, the government of erstwhile president Petr Poroshenko introduced a controversial re-interpretation of the rules, imposing penalties on companies that do not supply services in Ukrainian, strictly enforcing the rules on teaching in Ukrainian in secondary schools and introducing additional media requirements to advance content in Ukrainian.
W The level of cognition of Ukrainian among the Hungarian people was low, and 1 of the reasons for introducing stricter measures was the desire to better integrate them. However, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and any language minorities argue that these provisions are either repressive or unfair.
It should be noted that any secondary schools in Zakarpacie usage a bilingual teaching system, which is lawful. In Berehov you can besides see signs in Hungarian and Ukrainian. The provisions were amended in 2024 to further respect number rights, which was an initiative of Hungarian Ukrainians.
The Dangerous Blinding of Viktor Orban
Apart from the advantages and disadvantages of Ukrainian legislation, the requirements of this language policy are a regular subject of talks by Russian propaganda, Hungary and their supporters, who frequently exaggerate its effects.
W Ukraine should never be identified with members of a given nation. Many Ukrainians fought and died utilizing Russian, but were not Russian. The same applies to those who talk Hungarian. Many people usage Hungarian in addition to Ukrainian and/or another languages, and many of them can be heard in Zakarpacie.
The inhabitants of Zakarpacie fought in war, became prisoners, died and witnessed the consequences of this war in the form of incoming refugees, returning bodies of neighbors and relatives.
These experiences, combined with insults to Ukraine by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, caused a failure of sympathy for Hungarians. any Hungarian language users left Zakarpata after starting a full invasion. Furthermore, the Hungarians, although a large number in any areas, do not represent the full population of the region and are not a homogeneous group.
Historical claims to Ukrainian lands are not right due to the fact that they are internationally recognized borders, with the historical presence of Ukrainians, and the desire to change these borders is insignificant.
It besides makes no sense present to accuse people of oppression erstwhile they can proceed to usage it freely in many regular activities in cities specified as Berehovo. If Orban truly believes that the inhabitants of Zakarpacia will want to join Hungary, he is as dangerously blinded as Putin is to those speaking Russian.
Dr. Joseph Place is simply a scientist, author and editor, and has lived in Uzhhorad for 3 years, and for six years in Ukraine. He obtained his PhD in Political Sciences and global Relations from the University of Nottingham. He publishes articles on the language and economical policy of Ukraine, and besides runs a blog on which he talks, among others, about life in Zakarpacie: jjplace.co.uk.
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