Ukraine denies Hungary’s accusations over refusal to investigate ethnic Hungarian’s death

The DBR noted that a criminal case into Sebestyén’s death was opened by the Zakarpattia Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Western Region in early July. The investigation is being carried out by the Territorial Department of the DBR in Lviv.

According to investigators, Sebestyén was drafted into military service on June 14, 2025, in Mukachevo, Zakarpattia region. That same day, he passed a military medical examination at the Uzhhorod recruitment and social support center and was found fit for service.

"While already at the military unit, on June 18, he left his place of service without permission. On June 19, he independently went to the Berehove Regional Psychiatric Hospital, where he reported feeling unwell, suffering from a severe headache, and stated he had sustained a head injury possibly resulting in a concussion," the statement reads.

After reporting the headache, Sebestyén was taken to Berehove District Hospital. However, doctors found no serious injuries, and on June 24, with consent, he was transferred to a regional psychiatric facility in Berehove.

"On July 7, the Berehove Police Department received a report that József Sebestyén had died at the medical facility on July 6. During urgent investigative actions and examination of the body, no signs of violent death or bodily injuries were found," the DBR stated.

The statement emphasized that witness testimonies and a forensic examination revealed no indications of a violent death. The investigation is ongoing.

On July 10, the Hungarian authorities claimed that personnel from the Ukrainian recruitment center allegedly beat a Hungarian citizen to death in Zakarpattia. This claim was made by Levente Magyar, deputy foreign minister and ally of Hungary’s pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

In response, the Ukrainian Ground Forces stated that this information is false. József Sebestyén, who had been mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine, died in the hospital due to pulmonary artery thromboembolism.

Hungary continued spreading false information and turned Sebestyén’s death into a political spectacle. It began demanding that the European Union impose sanctions against Ukrainian officers. Budapest also took the step of unilaterally introducing sanctions against three Ukrainians:

• Colonel Vitalii Tkachenko from the Ground Forces Command headquarters

• Brigadier General Volodymyr Shvediuk from Operational Command West

• Colonel Roman Yuzvenko from the Ministry of Defense’s Mobilization Department