In a murky 2023 episode, Russia transferred 11 Ukrainian POWs to Hungary, saying they had Hungarian roots, without telling Kyiv.
From: Euromaiden Press BY EUHENIIA MARTYNIUK
Last year’s transfer of 11 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) from Russia to Hungary via occupied Luhansk and Moscow remains largely unknown. They were allegedly sent to Budapest due to Hungarian descent, without Kyiv’s knowledge.
DW spoke with two of those POWs, Ivan and Andriy (names changed), freed by Hungary from Russian captivity in June, 2023. The men, now in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, say they have no Hungarian roots or citizenship. For the first time, they described the exchange’s conditions.
The journey of Ivan and Andriy, Ukrainian POWs
Ivan and Andriy, originally from Zakarpattia Oblast of Ukraine, joined the military after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Their units fought in Luhansk Oblast, where they were captured in June 2022 and taken to the notorious Sukhodilska penal colony for Ukrainian POWs. Conditions were harsh – beatings, meager rations that left Ivan losing 22 lbs and Andriy 66 lbs.
Voice of Ukraine 