Ukrainian prisoners of war handed over to Hungarian authorities

2023-06-10T11:30:03.809Z

Highlights: Ukrainian prisoners of war held by the Russian military were released on Friday 9 June. They were handed over to Hungary, because these Ukrainian soldiers belong to the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. The transfer was announced by theRussian Orthodox Church which served as an intermediary. Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Viktor Orban's government has maintained close ties with the Kremlin and the Moscow Patriarchate. The Ukrainian government regrets not having been informed in advance, and to have learned from the press of the release of these prisoners.

Ukrainian prisoners of war held by the Russian military were released on Friday 9 June. They were handed over to Hungary, because these Ukrainian soldiers belong to the Hungarian minority in Ukraine....

Ukrainian prisoners of war handed over to Hungarian authorities

Ukrainian prisoners of war held by the Russian military were released on Friday 9 June. They were handed over to Hungary because these Ukrainian soldiers belong to the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. The transfer was announced by the Russian Orthodox Church which served as an intermediary. Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Viktor Orban's government has maintained close ties with the Kremlin and the Moscow Patriarchate.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has forged close ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. REUTERS - BERNADETT SZABO

Text by: RFI Follow

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With our correspondent in Budapest, Florence La Bruyère

A total of eleven Ukrainian prisoners were handed over to the Hungarian authorities. It is not yet known whether they were transferred to Hungary. According to Budapest, no details have leaked for security reasons. These soldiers are ethnic Ukrainians. They are from Transcarpathia, a province in southwestern Ukraine that is home to a Magyar community.

>> READ ALSO: Does Hungary train Ukrainian soldiers?

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has forged close ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. It is thanks to the support of Viktor Orban that Patriarch Kirill, very close to Vladimir Putin, escaped European sanctions. Today, by helping to free these prisoners, the Russian Orthodox Church is making a gesture towards Hungary. Speaking on Hungarian television, Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, who is in charge of religious affairs, thanked the Church of Russia.

In Kiev, Ukrainian authorities welcomed the transfer of Ukrainian soldiers to Hungarian authorities. However, the Ukrainian government regrets not having been informed in advance, and to have learned from the press of the release of these prisoners of war.

>> READ ALSO: In Hungary, Pope Francis meets with a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church

Ukrainian prisoners of war handed over to Hungarian authorities

Ukrainian prisoners of war handed over to Hungarian authorities

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