Prisoner of War Coordination Center Condemns Transfer
Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War has condemned Russia's handover of two Ukrainian prisoners of war to Hungary, calling it a violation of International Humanitarian Law. The Headquarters stated that this marks the second such incident, following the unauthorized transfer of 11 Ukrainian citizens to Hungary in 2023. The transfer occurred after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán personally appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin then ordered the release of the two soldiers—who hold Hungarian passports—during a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.
The Headquarters condemned 'the act of transferring Ukrainian citizens between Hungary and the aggressor state,' labeling it a Russian provocation. It stated the move 'aims to once again attack the Geneva Conventions and international law, and is an attempt to damage relations between two European countries as part of Russia's hybrid aggression against Europe.' The statement called on all parties involved to abandon 'unlawful intentions' and to stop using Ukrainian soldiers, captured due to Russian aggression, as bargaining chips.
Response from Ukraine's Foreign Ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine announced it will summon Hungary's Chargé d'Affaires to clarify the circumstances of the prisoners' transfer. The Coordination Headquarters has demanded full information on the health status of the captured Ukrainian citizens and access for authorized Ukrainian representatives to visit them. This incident highlights the complex diplomatic challenges emerging from the war, where unilateral actions regarding prisoners create further tensions.
The Ukrainian government's statements underscore its intent to protect its citizens' rights while pointing to the threat Russian hybrid aggression poses to regional stability. Resolving this issue is expected to require concerted international efforts, potentially involving international organizations to monitor the treatment of prisoners of war. Hungary's stance has been a point of contention within the EU, as it has maintained closer ties with Moscow than other member states since the full-scale invasion began.