Captured Ukrainians forced to thank Russia before transfer to Hungary, freed soldier says
Photo: Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó shows two captured Ukrainian soldiers handed over by Russia (facebook.com/szijjarto.peter.official)
Russia is handing over captured servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Zakarpattia to Hungary only on the condition that they record a propaganda video in which they praise the aggressor country, citing the Center for Strategic Communications (SPRAVDI).
A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksii Chorpita, who was released from Russian captivity, said that in 2023, while he was a prisoner of war in a prison in Horlivka, he was offered to take part in an exchange, but to go to Hungary.
“I am from Zakarpattia myself. But the condition for participating in the exchange was that I had to record a video in which I would speak negatively about the Ukrainian authorities and, at the same time, positively about Russia, the conditions of detention, and the prison regime. I refused, and then I was not included in the exchange,” the serviceman noted.
In 2025, Oleksii was eventually released from captivity and is currently undergoing treatment in Ukraine.
This is how he explained the appearance of videos in which some prisoners are forced to record similar messages.
“In most cases, they are an element of Russian propaganda created under pressure or coercion. That is why the publication of such videos in the media of other countries means the dissemination of Russian propaganda and essentially support for its aggression,” Oleksii stressed.
This testimony is another important exposure of Russian narratives about the war and the reality that reveals the true face of the aggressor state, as well as the states that retransmit them for their own purposes.
Russia handed over to Hungary two servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who had been in captivity. After they arrived in Budapest, a Hungarian TV channel published a video in which the soldiers thanked their Russian captors for their survival.
Russia hands over Ukrainian prisoners to Hungary
On March 4, during a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Russian president Vladimir Putin allowed the release of two Ukrainians with dual citizenship, using this gesture as a “humanitarian gift” to the Hungarian side.
The Russian leader allowed the Hungarian minister to take them with him on the plane.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that Moscow and Budapest are making prisoners of war part of political PR ahead of the elections in Hungary.
Ukraine also presented Hungary with several demands:
- Ensure contact between the returned soldiers and the Ukrainian consular staff;
- Conduct a medical examination and provide the necessary assistance;
- Guarantee the possibility to freely determine their future without external pressure or coercion.
