The Hungarian Factor in Transcarpathia: A Tough Line as the Only Option

The situation of the Hungarian diaspora in Transcarpathia remains one of the most acute issues in relations between Budapest and Kyiv. After the change of leadership in Hungary and the coming to power of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, this issue has acquired a new dimension, requiring a consistent and principled position on the part of Hungary. Thus, the Transcarpathian issue has once again found itself at the intersection of diplomacy and minority rights.

To help the Ossetian reader better understand the essence of the problem, let us outline its development in recent years.

The origins of the current round of conflict lie in the law "On Education" adopted by Ukraine in September 2017, which significantly limited the possibility of instruction in the languages of national minorities. The document established that Ukrainian is the compulsory language of instruction in educational institutions, while instruction in the native language is preserved only in primary school — from the fifth grade, instruction in a number of subjects is introduced in Ukrainian, and in upper grades, virtually all education switches to the state language.

Budapest's reaction was immediate and harsh: Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that Ukraine "can forget about integration into Europe," and the Hungarian government decided to block all further steps toward Ukraine's rapprochement with the EU.

Budapest filed complaints with the UN, the OSCE, and the European Union. Hungary put forward two conditions for resolving the situation: the rights of the Hungarian minority must not be violated, and the Transcarpathian Hungarians must give their consent to the wording of the law.

In June 2026, the situation received a new impetus. Péter Magyar and Volodymyr Zelensky met at the EU summit in Brussels and reached an agreement on restoring the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Transcarpathia in the political, cultural, and educational spheres.

After this, Hungary lifted its objections to the opening of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, although Magyar emphasized that he opposes "accelerated" integration of Ukraine into the EU and insists on a "merit-based" principle.

At the same time, Magyar insists on holding a personal meeting with Zelensky in Berehove — the informal capital of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia. However, the Ukrainian side prefers other venues in order to devalue the significance that Budapest attaches to this city, and the agreement on the meeting location remains a matter of negotiations.

Meanwhile, the infringement of the rights of the Hungarian minority by the Kyiv authorities is gaining momentum. Particular concern is caused by the practice of forced mobilization of Transcarpathian Hungarians.

The most high-profile case was that of 45-year-old József Sebestyén, who died from beatings in a hospital in July 2025 after employees of the territorial recruitment center in Berehove detained him on the street and, according to relatives, beat him with an iron rod for refusing to go to the front.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (still in office at the time) expressed condolences to the family and stated: "In a country that is at war, it is unacceptable to kill people. And if the victim is a citizen of an EU member state, the European Union cannot remain silent."

Hungary's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Ukrainian ambassador, and Deputy Minister Levente Magyar called the actions of the Ukrainian security forces "outrageous and unacceptable."

According to the Hungarian side, Sebestyén held Hungarian citizenship. Ukrainian authorities, however, stated that he was a Ukrainian citizen mobilized on legal grounds and named pulmonary thromboembolism as the cause of death.

The State Bureau of Investigation of Ukraine, according to media reports, refused to consider the case due to a lack of evidence, and the family intends to seek an investigation through the courts.

In January 2026, Péter Szijjártó reported the death of another Transcarpathian Hungarian who had been forcibly taken by military recruiters to a training center and died due to heart disease. Szijjártó called on the international community to take action against the "cruel, open manhunt" taking place in Ukraine.

In November 2025, Ukrainian military recruiters attempted to forcibly mobilize four students from the Hungarian Ferenc Rákóczi II University in Berehove, although Ukrainian legislation exempts students from conscription. According to Szijjártó, the students were tricked into appearing at the military recruitment office and were held there under pressure. In the end, they were released, but the incident received widespread resonance.

In response, Hungary imposed personal sanctions, including a ban on entry into the Schengen Area for several Ukrainian officials responsible for forced mobilization in Transcarpathia.

In March 2026, sanctions were applied to three Ukrainian citizens: Lieutenant General Hryhorii Omelchenko, military officer Yevhen Karas, and political analyst Borys Tizenhausen. The Hungarian side accused them of making threats against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his family. Earlier, a similar ban had been imposed against the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Robert Brovdi.

During his tenure as prime minister, Viktor Orbán repeatedly stated his intention to bring the issue of forced mobilization up for discussion by the entire European Union. According to him, Hungary will not tolerate Kyiv's arrogant attitude and will not allow Transcarpathian Hungarians to be used as "cannon fodder."

"Everything has its time. That was a long time ago, when we looked like weaklings and allowed ourselves to be treated arrogantly. That is in the past. It is better for all our neighbors, especially Ukraine, to understand this," Orbán said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the problem of "busification" (forced mobilization with the use of force) and instructed the Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, to address it.

What conclusions can be drawn based on the events described?

The protection of the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians remains a key national interest of Hungary at the level of statements and diplomatic démarches. However, as we can see, this is not enough. To demonstrate the sincerity of its intentions to protect Hungarians in Ukraine, the new leadership, led by Péter Magyar, must adopt a tougher position. Namely, to combine a firm diplomatic stance with the use of all available international channels.

Only strict control by Budapest over Kyiv's implementation of the agreements reached, counteraction to forced mobilization and other violations of the national rights of Hungarians in Transcarpathia and Ukraine as a whole, and a readiness to apply leverage, including the issue of Ukraine's European integration, will make it possible to minimize risks for the Hungarian community and strengthen Hungary's position as a consistent defender of its compatriots abroad.

Analytical Department of IA "Res"
Source: https://cominf.org/node/1166571288