Hungary to continue offering protection to draft-age Ukrainians

Hungary will continue to offer protection to draft-age Ukrainian men despite new European Union restrictions on temporary protection, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said, setting Budapest apart from the bloc’s recently adopted policy.

Magyar said on September 3 that Hungary would retain the right to grant protection to Ukrainian men of military age, many of whom he said are ethnic Hungarians from Ukraine’s western Transcarpathia region, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

“A few weeks ago, the European Union decided that refugee status cannot be granted to draft-age men fleeing the war,” Magyar said.

“Despite this, the government decided to retain Hungary’s right to grant such status,” he added.

Around 100,000 ethnic Hungarians live in Transcarpathia, which borders Hungary.

Magyar said he had raised the issue during talks with European Council President António Costa in Budapest on September 2. He argued that people should not be prevented from leaving a country affected by war.

“Hungary will act differently and provide assistance to those in need,” he told reporters.

The dispute follows an EU decision in July to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s full-scale invasion until March 4, 2028.

Under rules that took effect on August 5, people seeking temporary protection for the first time can be excluded if they have not fulfilled their military obligations under Ukrainian law.

The measure was introduced following requests from Kyiv as Ukraine faces continuing manpower shortages more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Hungary voted against the EU decision.

By Sabina Mammadli