Hungarian chargé d’affaires summoned by Ukraine over freed Transcarpathian Hungarian prisoners

The Hungarian chargé d’affaires in Kyiv has been summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry following the release on Wednesday of two Hungarian prisoners of war from the Transcarpathian region, the ministry announced.

A statement cited by the RBK-Ukraine news portal noted that Ukraine had been made aware of reports claiming that Russia had handed over several soldiers to Hungary. According to the statement, Ukraine had no prior information regarding this transfer.

Access requested to released individuals

“Consequently, the Hungarian chargé d’affaires was called to the ministry to provide reliable information. The Ukrainian side also requested access to the returned individuals,” the statement read.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry accused both Moscow and Budapest of “manipulating the sensitive issue of prisoners of war,” adding that such actions were not unprecedented.

Political cynicism condemned

“It is shocking to witness the cynicism of turning the question of people’s release into political PR ahead of elections in Hungary, and leveraging it in dealings with the Kremlin. It is clear that neither [Russian President] Vladimir Putin nor the current Hungarian leadership recognise any limits to such cynicism,” the ministry’s statement said.