Hungary summoned Ukrainian ambassador over arson attack on Hungarian church in Transcarpathia

Hungary summoned Ukraine’s ambassador to Budapest, Fedir Shandor, over the arson attack on a Hungarian church in the village of Palad-Komarivtsi in Zakarpattia Oblast. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry stated that this was not an isolated incident, but part of a “decade-long wave of systematic attacks” on Hungarians in Ukraine, including restrictions on language rights, forced mobilization, physical violence, and now arson. This was stated by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on social media.

“A Hungarian church was set on fire in Ukraine. Anti-Hungarian slogans were painted on the walls: ‘Hungarians out,’ ‘Death to Hungarians.’ These are not isolated incidents. For 10 years, the Hungarian community in Ukraine has been subjected to systematic attacks: first through laws depriving them of their rights to language and education, then through forced military service, physical violence, and now arson. Although the Ukrainian state is responsible for this, Brussels remains silent, accelerating Ukraine’s accession to the EU. This is unacceptable. Today we summoned the Ukrainian ambassador in Budapest. Enough is enough!”, – wrote Szijjártó.

Earlier, we reported that Hungary blocked the European Union’s personal sanctions against the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. Szijjártó believes that with this blockade, the Hungarian government has “saved what remains of the EU’s honor,” as sanctions against religious leaders limit the Church’s ability to act in the name of peace.