The Ukrainian press reported on Saturday afternoon that a "provocative" press conference was about to be held in Hungary, featuring prisoners of war who had recently arrived in the country with the approval of the Russian Orthodox Church. At the press conference, they will be obliged to praise Russia and portray Ukraine in a bad light.
On Thursday evening, a statement from the Orthodox Church revealed that soldiers captured by Russia and fighting on the side of Ukraine had been transported to Hungary. By Friday, it emerged that the programme was coordinated by Zsolt Semjén as Deputy Prime Minister for Church Affairs, and that it was also linked to Pope Francis' prisoner release mission. All this happened without anyone informing the Ukrainian side about the transfer of the Transcarpathian-born prisoners.
Related: Ukrainians say they know nothing about prisoners of war transferred to Hungary
They contacted the Hungarian Foreign Ministry.
Ukraine contacted the Hungarian ambassador in Kiev on Friday afternoon. Zsolt Semjén also said that the prisoners of war are now free in Hungary.
On Thursday evening, a statement from the Orthodox Church revealed that soldiers captured by Russia and fighting on the side of Ukraine had been transported to Hungary. By Friday, it emerged that the programme was coordinated by Zsolt Semjén as Deputy Prime Minister for Church Affairs, and that it was also linked to Pope Francis' prisoner release mission. All this happened without anyone informing the Ukrainian side about the transfer of the Transcarpathian-born prisoners.
Related: Ukrainians say they know nothing about prisoners of war transferred to Hungary
They contacted the Hungarian Foreign Ministry.
Ukraine contacted the Hungarian ambassador in Kiev on Friday afternoon. Zsolt Semjén also said that the prisoners of war are now free in Hungary.