After nearly 2 years, Ukraine appoints Fegyir Sándor, ‘teacher from the trenches’, as ambassador to Hungary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has officially appointed Fegyir Sándor as Ukraine’s ambassador to Hungary, ending a nearly two-year period during which the country was represented only by an acting ambassador in Budapest.
Long-delayed appointment
Sándor’s appointment had been under consideration since early 2023, but significant delays postponed the decision. One of the reasons for the holdup, as reported by HVG, was resistance within Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where some officials preferred a different candidate. Additionally, Sándor had to wait for (then-) Hungarian President Katalin Novák to issue the diplomatic accreditation, which was finalised only in August 2023, Telex reports.
András Rácz, a Russia expert, commented on Sándor’s appointment in a Facebook post, stating, “His task won’t be easy for several reasons… but I’m confident he’ll excel in this role as well.”
A multifaceted background
Born in Uzhhorod in 1975, Fegyir Sándor comes from a multicultural family—his father is of Hungarian-Slovak descent, while his mother has Ukrainian-Italian roots. Sándor studied history at Uzhhorod National University, later pursuing legal studies and earning advanced academic degrees in sociology and philosophy.
Before entering politics, he taught history and geography at an elementary school in Uzhhorod and led the Zakarpattia tourism office for a time. In 2020, he joined Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party and was elected to the regional parliament of Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia).
From the trenches to diplomacy
Sándor gained international attention during the early months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As a professor at Uzhhorod National University, he volunteered for the Ukrainian military and became known as the “professor from the trenches” after a photo emerged of him conducting online university lectures on tourism while stationed near the front lines.
In an interview with HVG, he emphasised the symbolic importance of his service as a Hungarian-speaking Ukrainian defending his homeland:
“I’m living proof that Hungarians, like other ethnic groups in Ukraine, are defending their families and homeland. We maintain close contact with the Hungarian people and are immensely grateful for the assistance from Hungarian volunteers and friends.”
Mission in Hungary
Sándor steps into a challenging diplomatic role amid tense relations between Kyiv and Budapest. Ukrainian leaders have often criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for his perceived alignment with Russian interests within the EU.
In a recent interview with 444.hu, Sándor dismissed the notion that Orbán is pro-Russia but stressed that Ukraine represents an asset to Europe. If appointed ambassador, he once said, he would suggest to Orbán that they visit Székesfehérvár together:
“There’s much to discuss.”
Hope for a new era
As Ukraine’s new ambassador to Hungary, Fegyir Sándor faces the formidable task of navigating strained bilateral relations while representing a multicultural, united Ukraine on the international stage. His appointment, coupled with his unique personal and professional background, offers a fresh opportunity to strengthen ties between the two nations.
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