Russian church preparing another secret transfer of Ukrainian prisoners to Hungary – RBC

With the "mediation" of the Russian Orthodox Church, Hungary intends to take another group of Ukrainian prisoners of war. 

Sources in the Ukrainian special services told RBC-Ukraine that, as last time, this happens without Ukraine's participation and consent.

According to one of the sources, the future visit of representatives of the Hungarian government to the Russian Federation is being actively discussed among the "Russian Orthodox Church." According to preliminary information, it may occur approximately August 8-11.

"The purpose of the visit is, in particular, to discuss the next round of the transfer of Ukrainian prisoners of war who are of 'Hungarian origin.' As last time, everything is happening without the participation and agreement of Ukraine, without any legal grounds, which is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law," said the sources.

On the Russian side, the "negotiator" will be a member of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk (in real life, Anton Yuriyovich Sevryuk), the source specified. From June 7, 2022, Antony holds the position of head of the department of external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

According to the interlocutor, the Hungarian side does not have a list of servicemen they would like to take from Russian captivity. Currently, Russian special services are searching and selecting Transcarpathians among prisoners and compiling a list.

Before the arrival of the Hungarian delegation, it is planned to form a group of 10-15 Ukrainian soldiers, the source added.

"The demand of the Hungarians is Hungarian ethnicity and knowledge of the Hungarian language. This demand is indisputable. The Hungarians will not accept anyone except representatives of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine," said the special services source.

Background

Russia handed over 11 Ukrainian prisoners of war of Hungarian origin to Hungary without the consent of Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that they learned about this from the mass media and the public statements of the Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary, Zsolt Semjén.

On June 8, news surfaced on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church that the transfer of a group of Ukrainian prisoners of war to Hungary took place through the mediation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the request of the Hungarian side. The ROC stated that they are of "Transcarpathian origin."

The Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary confirmed the transfer of prisoners, saying that it "is a gesture of the ROC towards Hungary, to which these people owe their freedom."

The Hungarian and Russian sides did not inform the Ukrainian government about their negotiations. Ukraine summoned the temporary representative of Hungary and asked him to provide detailed information about Ukrainian citizens and to ensure the consul's access to them immediately.

On June 16, the whereabouts of 11 captured defenders of Ukraine, who are being held in Hungary, became known. On June 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine appealed to the Hungarian side with the demand to immediately admit the Ukrainian consul to the Ukrainian prisoners of war. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukrainians are kept in isolation, they do not have access to open sources of information, and their communication with relatives occurs in the presence of outsiders. They are also denied contact with the Embassy of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Hungarian authorities ignore all attempts by Ukraine to establish a constructive dialogue regarding this situation. The European Commission urged Hungary to explain its participation in releasing Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Russian Federation and its communication with the government of Ukraine on this issue.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba stated that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is personally interested in the transfer of Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russia to Hungary. According to the minister, "Orbán had to show Hungarians both in Hungary and outside Hungary that he is their only defender."

On June 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Oleh Nikolenko, announced the return of three service members from Hungary to Ukraine. According to Nikolenko, three prisoners of war returned from Hungary are already in Ukraine, "They are provided with all kinds of support."

On June 23, Ukrainian diplomats took from Hungary two more prisoners of war from some of those handed over to Budapest by the Russian Federation without Ukraine's agreement.