Ukraine has managed to repatriate three POWs from Hungary
Ukraine has managed to repatriate three military prisoners from Hungary out of the 11 individuals that Russia handed over to Budapest without Ukraine's consent.
This was announced by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko.
"Ukrainian diplomats, together with the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and other relevant Ukrainian authorities, continue to take active measures to bring the remaining Ukrainian defenders, who were transported from Russia to Hungary, back home," emphasized Nikolenko.
He noted that the repatriated prisoners of war are already on Ukrainian territory and are being provided with all necessary support.
As reported by The Gaze, the Russian Orthodox Church transferred a group of Ukrainian prisoners of war to Hungary.
"With the blessing of the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, at the request of the Hungarian side, the transfer of a group of Ukrainian prisoners of war of Transcarpathian origin, who took part in hostilities, took place within the framework of inter-church cooperation," the statement from the Russian Orthodox Church's press service reads.
The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó, stated that Hungary, as a state, is not involved in the exchange of the 11 Ukrainian prisoners of war with Russia.
According to Szijjártó, consultations allegedly took place between church and religious organizations, in which "the Hungarian state was absolutely not involved."
He claimed that based on an agreement between religious organizations, the Ukrainian prisoners of war were "released."
The Hungarian government asserted that the Ukrainian captives "wanted to come to Hungary of their own free will" and that they are now "free to stay in Hungary or leave Hungary at any time of their own accord."
"If they want to contact the Ukrainian authorities, they are free to do so, I can guarantee you that," Szijjártó stated.
As reported by The Gaze, the European Union demands that Hungary clarify its role in the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russia, as well as its communication with the Ukrainian government on this matter.