Orban Denounces Ukraine Over Forced Conscription of Ethnic Hungarians

(MENAFN) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has strongly criticized Ukraine for its conscription practices targeting ethnic Hungarians, following the death of another forcibly drafted recruit. Ukrainian draft officials have reportedly been detaining military-age men in public spaces and workplaces as the armed forces struggle to maintain troop levels amid Russia’s ongoing offensive. Some of these detentions have involved physical violence, with multiple deaths occurring in enlistment offices.

“Dragged off to war, another Hungarian has died due to Ukraine’s forced conscription. This is unacceptable. We stand with the family, and we will not let this slide,” Orban stated in a video posted on X on Wednesday. He also warned, “All Ukrainian officials responsible for forced conscription will be expelled from Hungary without delay. Our people cannot be used as cannon fodder.”

The latest casualty, Zsolt Reban, 46, died on January 20 in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, which has a substantial ethnic Hungarian population. According to Balazs Orban, a political adviser to the Hungarian prime minister, Reban had been “taken from the street by force and pushed into conscription” despite being previously deemed unfit for military service due to a lifelong heart condition. Hungarian media reported that Reban died at a training center near Lviv and noted that he was an EU citizen.

This is not the first incident of concern. In July 2025, Jozsef Sebestyen, a dual Ukrainian-Hungarian citizen, died weeks after being drafted. His family claimed he had been beaten at a training center, though Ukrainian authorities stated that Sebestyen died from a pulmonary embolism.

Hungary has taken a cautious stance toward the conflict, refusing to supply weapons to Ukraine and advocating diplomatic solutions with Russia over sanctions. Budapest has also criticized Ukraine for striking an oil pipeline supplying the EU and, in August 2025, imposed sanctions on Robert Brovdi, Ukraine’s leading drone commander.

MENAFN05022026000045017281ID1110698838