Hungarian police are investigating the disappearance of two pieces of sensitive military equipment that went missing during the filming of “Sárkányok Kabul felett” (Dragons Over Kabul), an upcoming action film produced with the support of the Hungarian Defence Forces.
Military assets reportedly went missing after a film shooting
According to reports, the alleged theft took place last autumn at the army’s training base in Újdörögd, Veszprém County — one of the key filming locations. Police officers reportedly appeared on set after the disappearance was noticed. The Veszprém County Police Headquarters confirmed to Telex that the Tapolca Police Department has launched an investigation into theft, but declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
Neither the Defence Ministry nor the Hungarian Defence Forces have commented on what specific military devices went missing, when exactly the theft occurred, or whether there are any suspects. The Ministry of Defence stated only that it is “not the data controller” in the matter, while the Defence Forces’ General Staff redirected questions back to the ministry.
The movie was financed mostly by public funds
The film’s producer, Tamás Lajos — known for several government-backed film projects — also declined to respond to inquiries. His press office, managed by the Kubik Elvira Agency, stated that “Lajos does not wish to comment on the matter,” despite the film’s production having been largely financed through public funds.
The movie, “Sárkányok Kabul felett”, originally titled “Operation: Shaman”, dramatises the 2021 Shaman Shield rescue mission, during which the Hungarian Defence Forces helped evacuate 540 people from Afghanistan as NATO troops withdrew.
The movie’s estimated budget is HUF 5.8 billion (approximately EUR 15 million), funded through a combination of state and institutional grants: HUF 1.067 billion (EUR 2.77 million) from a government decision, HUF 1.7 billion (EUR 4.41 million) from the National Film Institute, and HUF 1.3 billion (EUR 3.375 million) from the public broadcaster MTVA.
The stolen items were properly secured
The production involved close cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and made use of active and decommissioned military sites, including the Kecskemét Air Base and the Újdörögd military training ground — the latter being where the missing items were reportedly kept in a secured armoury when they vanished.
The Ministry has not disclosed how the disappearance occurred or whether it might affect the film’s release. “Sárkányok Kabul felett” is scheduled to premiere in Hungarian cinemas on 20 November. Check out the trailer below:
