Budapest— Hungary has escalated its diplomatic war with Ukraine by banning three senior Ukrainian military officials from entering the country, citing the suspicious death of a Hungarian-Ukrainian dual citizen allegedly beaten by Kyiv’s military recruiters. The move has been condemned by Ukrainian authorities and adds yet another layer to the increasingly antagonistic relationship between Budapest and Kyiv, one already strained by Viktor Orbán’s open defiance of EU consensus on the war.
The ban, announced by Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on July 17, affects a regional commander, a military personnel chief, and a mobilization official involved in Ukraine’s ongoing draft efforts. Hungary alleges they were responsible for the fatal beating of a dual citizen in Ukraine’s western Zakarpattia region—home to a significant Hungarian ethnic minority.
Prime Minister Orbán went so far as to claim the man was “beaten to death by recruiters.” In contrast, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically denied the accusation, stating that the man had died of a pulmonary embolism and showed no signs of violence. Orbán’s claim, Kyiv insists, is not only medically baseless but politically motivated.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry swiftly fired back, describing the ban as “absurd and offensive.” Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha warned that Kyiv might impose reciprocal restrictions on Hungarian officials and accused Budapest of weaponizing the incident to score geopolitical points.
This is not the first time Viktor Orbán has used ethnic Hungarian grievances in Zakarpattia as leverage against Kyiv. For years, Hungary has blocked Ukraine’s NATO and EU accession efforts, citing alleged mistreatment of Hungarian minorities. Orbán has also refused to allow weapon transfers to Ukraine through Hungarian territory, demanded direct peace talks with Russia, and positioned Hungary as a lone dissenting voice within an otherwise united European front.
Analysts note that Orbán’s administration is increasingly adopting Kremlin talking points, especially as it pertains to Ukraine’s military mobilization efforts. The Hungarian premier has also held private meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and continues to oppose sanctions against Moscow, even as Russian forces occupy Ukrainian territory.
The latest diplomatic rupture now threatens to derail Hungary’s already fraught relationship with the EU and NATO. Several European diplomats view Budapest’s move as another attempt to sabotage Ukraine’s defense infrastructure from within the Western alliance.
According to the Associated Press, the banned officials were directly tied to the regional draft administration in Zakarpattia, and the deceased man’s family has not confirmed any allegations of assault. Instead, Ukraine’s official forensic report cites a natural cause of death, and authorities have opened an investigation to address the Hungarian claims.
As Hungary’s defiant stance continues to embolden Russia and irritate its EU partners, the incident may mark a turning point in Ukraine’s approach to a neighbor that is no longer merely neutral—but increasingly hostile.
