Russian intelligence-linked operatives allegedly tried to stage a paid demonstration outside Hungary’s parliament to promote the Rosatom-backed Paks II nuclear project, according to an investigation based on leaked documents.
The rally was cancelled about 30 minutes before it was due to begin.
Source
The findings were published on October 26 by InformNapalm and Ukrainian Militant.
They are based on correspondence, internal documents and digital records obtained by the hacker group 256 Cyber Assault Division.
The report does not say the material has been independently verified.
Investigators named two Russian officers: Colonel Timur Sirtlanov and Lieutenant Colonel Irina Parman.
Both are linked to military unit 33949, which earlier open-source investigations have associated with Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the SVR.
tolon@list.ru) to iralar13@mail.ru. The message reads: “The ‘aktivka’ [active operation/campaign] in Budapest has been rescheduled. Can you do profiling for tomorrow?”Details
A leaked email dated September 16 reportedly shows Sirtlanov asking Parman to carry out psychological profiling ahead of a postponed operation in Budapest.
The email called the operation an “active measure,” a term Russian intelligence uses for covert influence campaigns aimed at foreign governments and public opinion.
The goal was to build public support for Paks II, a nuclear plant expansion involving Rosatom.
Organizers allegedly recruited Russian-speaking residents of Hungary through Facebook advertisements.
They coordinated in a private Telegram group called “Friendship of Peoples,” which had 106 members.
Participants were told to prepare banners and promotional materials backing the project.
Organizers also offered extra payment, though investigators found no evidence that any money was paid.
InformNapalm traced the promotional materials to Parman after finding that a PDF file listed its author as “Irina Larina,” a surname she had previously used online.
The rally was first scheduled for September 20 outside parliament, then postponed to September 26. Organizers called it off roughly 30 minutes before it was due to start.
Worsening Russia-Hungary Ties
The alleged operation comes as relations between Moscow and Budapest deteriorate.
On September 8, Hungary expelled ten Russian diplomats for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status.
Paks II is also under growing scrutiny. Hungarian authorities opened an investigation in August into financial transactions linked to the project.
That followed a 2025 European Union court ruling that overturned the European Commission’s approval of state aid for its construction.
In May 2026, Hungary expelled a Russian diplomat identified as an undercover SVR officer.
According to VSquare, he had allegedly spent years cultivating contacts in Hungarian institutions and gathering intelligence on government officials and the Paks II project.
