A surge of Ukrainian refugees: the disappearing Hungarian identity in Transcarpathia

The Hungarian community in Uzhhorod (Ungvár), Transcarpathia (Kárpátalja), has been shrinking, and the consequences of this demographic shift are becoming increasingly evident. Amid the war and internal migration within Ukraine, the city’s population has surged, but the Hungarian majority that once defined it is now in decline. While new arrivals, mostly from other parts of Ukraine, are shaping the city’s future, the disappearance of the Hungarian identity remains a growing concern.

According to Mandiner’s report, Transcarpathia, Ukraine’s only region that has maintained a stable population since the war’s onset, now faces dramatic demographic shifts. While Ukraine’s overall population has plummeted to an estimated 20-25 million, half of the population that existed during the post-Soviet era, Transcarpathia’s population holds steady at around 1.25 million. However, 250,000 internally displaced Ukrainians have added to this total, significantly altering the region’s social and cultural makeup, with many Hungarians among those fleeing the conflict.

A man enters the polling booth during the European Parliamentary (EP) elections at the Hungarian Consulate General in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, 9 June 2024. Photo: MTI/Nemes János

Housing shortage, sky-high rental prices in Transcarpathia

Uzhhorod, once a city of 120,000, has grown substantially, with estimates now putting its population at around 200,000, according to György Dunda, newspaper director of Kárpáti Igaz Szó. Many of the new residents are internal refugees from other parts of Ukraine, particularly Lviv, Kyiv, and Odessa, who have made their way to Transcarpathia’s larger cities. The influx of refugees has led to a severe housing shortage in Uzhhorod, pushing rental prices sky-high. Pre-war, one could rent an apartment for UAH 3,700 to 8,500 (EUR 85 to 193); today, rents have surged to levels comparable with those in major Ukrainian cities and even Budapest, making it unaffordable for locals.

This migration has also fueled an unprecedented building boom. Investors from eastern Ukraine, many of whom are Russian-speaking, have been behind much of the construction. Uzhhorod’s infrastructure, however, has not kept pace with the rapid population increase, resulting in severe traffic congestion, which is now at the level of larger Ukrainian cities. The influx of newcomers, including wealthy individuals from other regions, has significantly impacted the local economy, with high demand for both housing and luxury items.

Is Hungarian identity being erased?

The debate over the motivations behind this demographic shift is complex. Some see the construction boom as an opportunity for outside investors, including Arab financiers, who have found business opportunities in the region, as mentioned by György Dunda. Others suggest that state-backed programs are pushing for a form of population replacement in Uzhhorod, erasing the Hungarian identity that once dominated the area. Local opinion is divided, with many fearing that the presence of Ukrainian-speaking migrants, particularly from central Ukraine, is changing the cultural landscape of the region.

The situation is particularly worrying for the Hungarian community, as their numbers continue to dwindle. In what was once a Hungarian-majority area, the shift in demographics is leading to a feeling of alienation. Local Hungarians, who are already in the minority, now find themselves grappling with a rapidly changing environment. This transformation, driven by migration and state-supported development, raises questions about the future of Transcarpathia’s Hungarian community. As Dunda remarked, Kárpátalja will never be the same as it was before 2022.

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Source: depositphotos.com