Hungary is holding in isolation Ukrainian prisoners of war handed over by Russia: the European Commission reacted

The Budapest official must explain how the Ukrainian prisoners of war ended up in Hungary and on what basis they are being held there. This was announced by the spokesman of the European Commission for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Peter Stano. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine states that all attempts to establish direct contact with citizens of their country fail.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported that Hungary does not allow diplomats to visit Ukrainian prisoners of war. The press secretary of the European Commission for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Peter Stano, said that Russia must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure the humane treatment of prisoners of war in all circumstances, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

As for Hungary, its authorities should clarify the details and their involvement in the release of Ukrainian citizens held by Russia as prisoners of war, as well as Hungary's communication with the Ukrainian authorities on this matter

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that all attempts to establish direct contact with citizens of their country have failed. This was announced on Facebook by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleg Nikolenko. Currently, everything possible is being done to bring the Ukrainians back home. Nikolenko also noted that information received from relatives of some prisoners of war indicated that the assurances of the Hungarian authorities about the allegedly free status of Ukrainian defenders in Hungary did not correspond to reality.

In fact, they are held in isolation, they have no access to open sources of information, their communication with their loved ones takes place in the presence of third parties, they are denied contact with the Ukrainian Embassy

What happens to the Ukrainian POWs deported to Hungary?

On June 8, 2023, the Russian Orthodox Church announced that it had handed over 11 prisoners of war of Transcarpathian origin to Hungary as part of “inter-church cooperation at the request of the Hungarian side”. Hungary's deputy prime minister confirmed the news on June 9. The Ukrainian side was not informed about the transfer of Ukrainian prisoners of war to Hungary. On June 16, it turned out that Ukraine had determined its location. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demands that Hungary allow our diplomats to visit prisoners so that they can know the condition of Ukrainian citizens and provide them with assistance.