Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has condemned Ukraine’s alleged attempt to conscript ethnic Hungarian students in the 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 Ferenc Rakoczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian University in Beregovo into visiting a recruitment center, where they faced pressure to enlist. The students were allegedly detained and subjected to coercive measures before being released, Szijjarto said.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry has engaged with the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association and the university administration, representing approximately 100,000 to 150,000 ethnic Hungarians in the region. Szijjarto emphasized that Ukrainian legislation clearly exempts these students from conscription.
While acknowledging that the students avoided illegal mobilization as “good news,” the minister reiterated that peace between Russia and Ukraine is essential to halt such actions. He highlighted the need for an end to the conflict to prevent further violations of minority rights.
A statement from Ukraine’s Regional Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support denied claims of detention, stating the students were summoned for data verification. Three had not completed mandatory medical exams, but they left after the process was finalized.
Hungary has previously criticized Ukraine’s recruitment efforts, citing manpower shortages and military setbacks. Szijjarto described the mobilization as an “open manhunt” involving violence against civilians. The minister linked deteriorating bilateral relations to longstanding Ukrainian policies targeting national minorities.