A court in Hungary has ordered the detention of a Ukrainian man for one month on charges of espionage, as announced by the Budapest Chief Prosecutor's Office.

This decision was made due to concerns of flight risk and the need to protect evidence during the ongoing investigation.

The ruling is not final, as the defense has appealed against it.

The man, potentially identified as István Holló, is suspected of gathering information on behalf of the Ukrainian military intelligence service and is being investigated for espionage and other criminal activities.

Following a session of the National Security Committee of the Hungarian Parliament, the head of the ruling Fidesz party's parliamentary group, Máté Kocsis, stated that Hungarian intelligence services have identified additional Ukrainian spies within the country.

Kocsis specifically mentioned Holló's alleged active relationship with members of the Hungarian political opposition, asserting that he had met with several leading politicians and officials from parliamentary parties.

In parallel, a figure named Roland Tseber was mentioned as potentially being under scrutiny for working alongside Holló and conducting intelligence operations related to the Hungarian Armed Forces and the country’s energy infrastructure.

Holló, according to Kocsis, has been under the observation of Hungarian security services for an extended period.

He reportedly lacks Hungarian citizenship and instead is identified as a Ukrainian national.

Previously, Holló had been placed in immigration custody in collaboration with Hungary’s Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK), amidst allegations of espionage and other offenses.

Kocsis noted that Holló engaged in active intelligence activities alongside the Ukrainian military, focusing on understanding the Hungarian military's operations and energy framework.

His connections reportedly include numerous individuals relevant to both the Ukrainian intelligence community and Hungary’s defense and energy sectors.

Concerns were raised about Holló's direct connections with a former high-ranking official in Hungary’s defense sector, with whom he discussed military supplies contextually aligned with Ukrainian weapon and ammunition needs.

Kocsis emphasized the significant risk that Holló’s activities present to national security in Hungary.

Additionally, Tseber, who was once a dual citizen of Ukraine and Hungary, relinquished his Hungarian citizenship in 2017. His surveillance has reportedly been ongoing for years, supporting the claim that he is an illegal agent of the Ukrainian intelligence service.

Kocsis claimed Tseber has maintained connections with leading figures in the domestic opposition and had met with senior military officials, potentially involving sensitive discussions about defense manufacturing and foreign investments.

Another aspect of the ongoing investigation points to Tseber’s participation in a joint visit to Ukraine with Péter Magyar, a notable Hungarian political figure, last summer, during which Tseber shared insights and experiences about the conditions in Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.