Ukrainian Foreign Ministry comments on Ukrainian POWs held in Hungary

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry recalled that Hungary, without the knowledge of the Ukrainian government or international human rights organizations, had taken eleven Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russia.

Attempts by Ukrainian diplomats to establish direct contact with the Ukrainian nationals recently have not been successful. This information, as well as data received from relatives of some of them, indicate that the Hungarian authorities' assurances about the free status of Ukrainian defenders in Hungary are not true.

In fact, these people are isolated, they do not have access to open sources of information, and their communication with their relatives takes place in the presence of third parties. They are also denied the opportunity to contact the Ukrainian embassy. Attempts by the Ukrainian side to establish a constructive dialogue with the Hungarian authorities through official diplomatic channels are unfortunately ignored.

Such actions on the part of Budapest undermine the stated humanitarian motives for the evacuation of Ukrainians to Hungary. Furthermore, they can be seen as a violation of the provisions of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its request to the Hungarian side to immediately allow the Ukrainian consul to visit the Ukrainian prisoners of war to assess their physical and psychological condition, inform them of their rights, and provide them with urgent consular assistance.

Ukraine is awaiting the return of its defenders and is ready to provide them with maximum support in the process of reuniting them with their families and providing them with the necessary rehabilitation.