Introduction:”Death of Ukrainian Conscript”
The death of a 45-year-old ethnic Hungarian man, Jozsef Sebestyen, who held both Ukrainian and Hungarian citizenship, Death of Ukrainian Conscript,has ignited a fierce diplomatic row between Ukraine and Hungary.
His family claims he was subjected to severe beatings and intimidation following his conscription in June 2025. Death of Ukrainian Conscript,The Ukrainian military has denied all allegations of abuse, but the incident has drawn fresh international attention to Ukraine’s recruitment methods as it struggles to maintain forces on the front lines against Russia.
A Forcible Conscription Ends in Death
In western Ukraine near the Hungarian border, on June 14, 2025. According to his brother and sister, who later spoke to Hungarian media, he was forcibly conscripted and shortly afterward physically abused by Ukrainian soldiers.
“They took me to a forest with many other men and started beating me there,” Sebestyen reportedly told his family before his death,Death of Ukrainian Conscript, as quoted by Hungarian news outlet Mandiner. He described being beaten with iron bars and warned that if he didn’t cooperate and sign military documents, he would be sent to the front lines – referred to as “zero” in military slang.
Sebestyen died on July 8 at a psychiatric hospital in Berehove. Death of Ukrainian Conscript,His family alleges that his injuries from the beatings were the direct cause of his death, although the Ukrainian military disputes this claim.
Kyiv Denies Allegations, Budapest Demands Answers
On July 10, Hungary’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ukrainian ambassador Sandor Fegyir to provide explanations regarding the circumstances of Sebestyen’s death. Death of Ukrainian Conscript,The Hungarian government, already a vocal critic of Ukraine’s war conduct, reacted strongly.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán issued a scathing statement via Facebook:
The statement added that Ukraine is open to a transparent investigation conducted under Ukrainian law.
A Flashpoint in a Growing Diplomatic Rift
This latest incident has further strained relations between Budapest and Kyiv,Death of Ukrainian Conscript, which have already been tense throughout the war. In May 2025, a spy scandal involving both countries resulted in arrests and mutual expulsions of diplomats.
In June, the Hungarian government published the results of a controversial “national consultation” – a form of public survey – in which Hungarian citizens were asked to vote on Ukraine’s EU accession bid. The consultation listed eight reasons for opposing Ukraine’s membership. Over two million Hungarians reportedly voted “no”, though these results have not been independently verified.
Conscription in Ukraine: Mounting Allegations of Abuse
Ukraine has faced significant military losses and manpower shortages since the Russian invasion in February 2022, prompting an increasingly aggressive conscription drive. Death of Ukrainian Conscript,All men aged 25 to 60 are eligible for service, and most men aged 18 or above are prohibited from leaving the country.
There have been frequent reports of forced conscription, where military squads round up eligible men without notice. Many of these men are said to be taken without due process, often ignoring medical exemptions or legal protections.
A Hungarian woman living in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region told the BBC,Death of Ukrainian Conscript, on condition of anonymity:
She described how even valid medical exemption certificates were routinely ignored, Death of Ukrainian Conscript,and soldiers forcibly took individuals by bundling them into vehicles. Bribes in the range of thousands of dollars were allegedly demanded to avoid conscription.
Targeting Critics and Journalists?
There are also increasing allegations that critics of the Ukrainian government, Death of Ukrainian Conscript,including journalists and activists, are being specifically targeted for conscription.
One high-profile case involves Oleh Dyba, 58, editor of the investigative news outlet Zakarpattya Online. Dyba claims he was taken into military detention after publishing articles that questioned the environmental impact of constructing wind turbines in the Carpathian Mountains. He is currently on a hunger strike, asserting his detention is politically motivated.
Complaints on the Rise: Human Rights Ombudsman Responds
Ukraine’s Ombudsman for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, acknowledged a sharp increase in complaints regarding conscription abuse. Death of Ukrainian Conscript,He stated that his office had received 3,500 formal complaints in 2024, and over 2,000 complaints in the first half of 2025 alone.
These complaints range from physical abuse, unlawful detentions, to denial of exemptions. As of July 2025, more than 50 military recruiters are facing criminal charges for misconduct related to conscription.
Right to Conscientious Objection Removed
One major human rights concern has been the abolition of conscientious objection in Ukraine. When martial law was declared in February 2022, Ukraine suspended the legal right for individuals to refuse military service on moral or religious grounds.
In response, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe issued a formal opinion in March 2025, advising Ukraine to reinstate mechanisms for alternative civil service.Their statement read:
EU Accession at Stake
Hungary’s strong condemnation of Ukraine over the death of Sebestyen could influence Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union.Death of Ukrainian Conscript, Orbán’s statement linking the conscription abuses to EU values adds a new dimension to the diplomatic rift.
“A country where this can happen cannot be a member of the EU,” Orbán declared.
With Ukraine counting on EU and NATO integration as strategic goals in its fight against Russian aggression, mounting allegations of human rights violations during mobilization could be a significant obstacle.Death of Ukrainian Conscript,
