Journalists face dilemmas all the time: if a story is news-worthy, if enough information is at hand to write about the subject. But what happens when there are other, more complex ones: “do I accept citizenship from another country?” “Do I work according to the interests of secret services of my birth country?” During our investigative work, we came to know that journalist Vitaly Hlahola surely has to face these dilemmas.
Vitaly Hlahola is a Ukrianian-born journalist who for a long time was working out of the Transcarpathia region. Beginning in the 2010s he created great connections with many members of the diplomatic corps working in the oblast, in particular, the representatives of neighboring Hungary.
This was surely more than a good working relationship as Hlahola in 2013 received a press prize from the Uzhhorod-based Hungarian consulate and even, some time later he even got Hungarian citizenship and a Hungarian passport. He was happy to accept both even if it meant he had to leave behind his Ukrainian citizenship.
According to our sources, Hlahola was approached by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) sometime around 2016 and since then has been publishing stories in line with the SBU’s agenda. Namely, leaks and articles against his Hungarian curators, like material on Laszlo Brezovich and other leading faces of the local Hungarian political party. In May 2025 he was first to report on the two Hungarian spies detained in Transcarpathia.
He is also first in line to publicize Ukrainian military advances like the SBU’s operation to break down Russian strategic bombers. For however reason, Hlahola could even provide video footage on the attack.
Another telling aspect of Hlahola’s association is the fact that the Blacklist.ua website lists his and his wife’s yearly income as no less than 9 million USD. The origin of that money is unknown but sadly we all can have ideas: SBU money? Money from his Hungarian handlers?
Money for being a house journalist for the SBU while being a double agent for Hungary? Or professional journalism? Hlahola’s dilemmas are a many.
