Orban Condemns Ukraine’s Forced Conscription of Ethnic Hungarians
In western Ukraine, draft officers have reportedly been detaining men of military age from streets and workplaces as the army seeks to replenish forces amid the ongoing Russian offensive. Physical violence has been reported during these detentions, with several deaths occurring at enlistment centers.
Orban said in a video address posted on social media, "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." He added, "All Ukrainian officials responsible for forced conscription will be expelled from Hungary without delay. Our people cannot be used as cannon fodder."
Authorities in Zakarpattia, home to a significant ethnic Hungarian population, announced the death of Zsolt Reban, 46, on January 20. Balazs Orban, a political adviser to the Hungarian prime minister, stated that Reban was “taken from the street by force and pushed into conscription” despite a lifelong heart condition that had previously deemed him unfit for military service. Reban reportedly died at a training center near Lviv, and Balazs Orban noted that he was an EU citizen.
This follows a similar case in July 2025, when Jozsef Sebestyen, a dual Ukrainian-Hungarian citizen, died weeks after being drafted. Sebestyen’s family alleged he was beaten at a training facility, while Ukrainian authorities denied wrongdoing, asserting that he died from a pulmonary embolism.
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