Transcarpathian Hungarians at risk: Russian strikes threaten secret Ukrainian facility just 12 km from Hungarian border
According to the Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, Germany’s Rheinmetall defence company may have set up a covert facility in Chornotysiv, a village in Transcarpathia just 12 kilometres from Hungary’s border. If true, this location could become a prime target for Russian missile strikes, warned journalist Elena Gamayun, who believes EU proximity won’t deter Russia from potentially targeting the site.
The Rheinmetall CEO, Armin Papperger, had previously hinted at new defence production sites in Ukraine, including a factory manufacturing Lynx infantry vehicles by year’s end, with three more planned, Index reports. Russian analysts quoted by Moskovsky Komsomolets, however, were quick to dismiss Papperger’s claims as mere PR, questioning the factory’s legitimacy. One expert, Alexander Perendzhiev from the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, argued that such statements might be a front for financial gains, suggesting that secret facilities are not typically publicised. He added, “They’ll say they produced something, then claim it was destroyed by Russian attacks when the money’s gone.”
In contrast, Lieutenant Colonel Roman Skurlatov expressed in another Russian outlet that a facility likely does exist but is designed for producing 155mm shells rather than armoured vehicles. Skurlatov speculated that Papperger’s announcements were more about PR than actual military capability, especially as there’s been no confirmed planning for additional sites.
Local residents concerned over hidden operations
The exact location of this facility remains uncertain, yet Skurlatov and others find it unlikely to be situated in eastern Ukraine, suggesting a secure underground facility might be more plausible. Moskovsky Komsomolets recalls that last year, when Rheinmetall’s plans first surfaced, rumours grew about secret construction in Chornotysiv, sparking local concerns. Construction equipment and materials were brought into the village under tight security, with armed checkpoints installed along routes leading to the construction site. A high volume of cement deliveries, along with trucks carrying away soil, seemed to hint at underground activity, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported.
Local residents also noticed an influx of German nationals requiring interpreters, indicating the possible involvement of Rheinmetall personnel. The site’s strategic location, surrounded by mountains and close to EU borders—both Hungary and Romania—was reportedly chosen for its natural and political advantages.
While some suggest that Russia might hesitate to conduct strikes near European borders, Gamayun countered by pointing to recent strikes on Ukraine’s Danube ports near Romania as proof that European proximity won’t prevent Moscow from targeting key infrastructure.
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