Hungarian delegation member refused to visit Druzhba pipeline for fear of being conscripted

A Hungarian fact-finding delegation tasked with assessing the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline travelled to Kyiv with one fewer member than originally planned after a participant reportedly declined to cross the border into Ukraine due to fears of possible legal consequences.

The group had one member who had dual citizenship

The group, established by a Hungarian government decision on 4 March, was initially expected to consist of five members. It was led by Hungarian state secretary Gábor Czepek and aims to evaluate damage to the pipeline and discuss energy-related issues.

However, according to Hungarian media reports, one member ultimately chose not to join the trip. The individual was reportedly born in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region and still holds a Ukrainian passport. Given the increasingly strained relations between Budapest and Kyiv, the person feared Ukrainian authorities might remind him of his civic obligation to defend the country in wartime.

In practical terms, this raised concerns that he could face mobilisation or conscription, prompting him to withdraw from the mission.

In case you missed it, here is a timeline of the recent events regarding Ukraine’s Druzhba pipeline. Also, energy pipelines are under fire, with alleged TurkStream attack and Druzhba shutdown risk. What does it mean for Hungary?

Delegation composition and purpose

Before departure, Czepek had said the mission would include two senior state officials with experience in international relations and two experts from the Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group, which had been invited to delegate specialists.