Ukrainian authorities detained Hungarian university students from Transcarpathia — Szijjártó confirmed their release
According to media reports, Ukrainian authorities detained several students from Transcarpathia for more than 24 hours, even though, under the law, they cannot be drafted.
Data update or arbitrary detention?
On 4 November, the students visited the Berehove District Recruitment Centre to update their personal data, as required by law. However, four of them were held for over 24 hours. According to the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association (KMKSZ), under Ukrainian law the military authorities have no right to arbitrarily detain conscripts, and a data update does not justify prolonged detention.
“Updating personal data is not an act that would justify immediate or hours-long detention. We believe that the restriction of the students’ freedom is unlawful and contradicts Ukrainian legislation,” the KMKSZ said in its statement.
The Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association, which has represented the local Hungarian community since 1989, expressed its deep outrage over the incident. The organisation values cooperation with Hungary and other Hungarian institutions, and considers the preservation of national identity and the support of cultural institutions as key priorities.
At the same time, the organisation seeks to maintain good relations with Ukrainian authorities and supports Ukraine’s European integration, as well as dialogue among the national communities of the region.
Official action by KMKSZ and Szijjártó’s response
The KMKSZ immediately sent letters to the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, the Human Rights Commissioner, and the Transcarpathian Regional Military Administration, calling for a swift and transparent investigation.
According to Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, the ministry closely followed the case from the start.
“We have been in constant contact with the Transcarpathian Hungarian Cultural Association and the university leadership. Ukrainian law is clear in this regard: these students are exempt from conscription,” Szijjártó wrote on social media.
He also confirmed that by the evening, all the detained students had been released by Ukrainian authorities. The minister emphasised the importance of peace, adding that the sooner peace is restored, the sooner forced conscriptions will end.
“We Hungarians stand for peace, we support all peace efforts, and we will continue to do so tomorrow in Washington as well,” he wrote.
Regional tensions and a previous espionage case
Tensions between the Hungarian minority and Ukrainian authorities in Transcarpathia have long been high. The local Hungarian community numbers between 70,000 and 80,000 people, and in recent years several disputes have highlighted the region’s political and military sensitivity.
In May 2025, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) detained two individuals in Transcarpathia accused of spying for Hungarian intelligence. Their task was to collect information about the local defence capabilities of the Ukrainian army and the population’s possible reactions in the event of a Hungarian military intervention.
Based on SBU reports, the man and woman were instructed to prepare military reports and recruit additional individuals. If you want the full story, we covered this case in detail earlier.
Szijjártó: Hungary will not give in to “Brussels pressure”
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also spoke about the tensions in Kárpátalja on 3 November in Budapest, during a meeting of the Hungarian Parliament’s Committee on National Cohesion. He declared that Hungary “will not yield to Brussels’ pressure” and continues to demand that Ukraine restore the national minority rights taken from the Hungarians of Transcarpathia since 2015.
As mentioned by Szijjártó, Brussels and several EU member states criticise Budapest for its stance, but Hungary’s position remains unchanged:
“Here, we can only rely on ourselves,” the minister emphasised.