Hungary banned the entry of the Ukrainian Armed Forces commander after the attack on the oil pipeline
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó announced that his country is banning entry to the commander of the Ukrainian military unit responsible for the "latest attack" on the "Friendship" oil pipeline. He stated this in a video published on the morning of August 28 on Facebook.
Szijjártó stated that recently Ukraine has carried out several attacks on the "Friendship" oil pipeline, which is "of great importance for Hungary's secure energy supply".
"Without the 'Friendship' oil pipeline, it is impossible to supply Hungary with crude oil. Ukraine is well aware of this. Ukraine understands that the 'Friendship' pipeline is vital for Hungary's energy security," he said.
The political director of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Balázs Orbán, confirmed that the Ukrainian military commander whom Hungary has banned from entering due to attacks on the "Friendship" pipeline is an ethnic Hungarian, Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign "Magyar." Balázs Orbán confirmed this to 444.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded sharply to Hungary's decision to ban Brovdi's entry. He wrote on X.
"How shameless to publish such a thing after the brutal attack by the terrorist state of Russia. Peter, if the Russian oil pipeline is more important to you than Ukrainian children killed by Russia this morning, it is a moral decline. Hungary is on the wrong side of history," Sybiha wrote.
Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign "Magyar," reacted to Hungary's decision to ban him from entering. He wrote on his Telegram. Brovdi stated that he is indifferent to the sanctions imposed against him by the government led by Viktor Orbán.
"Screw your sanctions and restrictions on visiting Hungary, Mr. 'Bone Dancer.' I am Ukrainian, and I will arrive in my father's homeland after you. There are enough true Magyars in Hungary, and someday you will pay for it," he wrote.
Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the decision of the Hungarian government to ban the ethnic Hungarian Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign "Magyar," is outrageous. Zelensky wrote on Facebook.
"If Hungary has indeed closed the entry to Hungary and the entire Schengen zone to one of the military commanders, who is an ethnic Hungarian and a citizen of Ukraine, this can only cause outrage," he emphasized.
Zelensky added that Hungarian officials "try to discriminate against members of the Hungarian community in Ukraine for their participation in defending our state and people." Moreover, as the president pointed out, Hungary is trying to "paint black white and shift the blame for the war onto Ukraine," which was unleashed by Russia.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday summoned the Hungarian ambassador in response to Budapest's sanctions against Robert "Magyar" Brovdi. Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. According to Sybiha, the Hungarian envoy was handed a note of protest "in response to Hungary's discrimination against the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, including our defender of Hungarian descent, who was denied entry to the country of his ancestors."
The Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, invited the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces to Poland despite Hungary's sanctions, which include a ban on entry. Sikorski wrote on X.
As the head of the Polish MFA noted, while Russian rockets attack Kyiv, "Hungary bans the brave ethnic Hungarian who dared to fight for Ukraine's freedom."
Lithuania also announced that it would gladly welcome the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces despite sanctions. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Skėrys wrote on X. Skėrys called Hungary's decision regarding sanctions against Brovdi a "shameful act".
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó responded to colleagues from Ukraine and Hungary regarding the criticism of Budapest's decision to impose sanctions on Brovdi.
The Hungarian minister asked Kyiv not to "drag" Hungary into the war.
"This is not our war! We are not responsible for it, we did not start it, and we are not participating in it. Stop provoking us, stop jeopardizing our energy security, and stop trying to drag us into your war!" he said Szijjártó.
He similarly responded to Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who invited "Magyar" to his country despite Hungary's sanctions.
"The threat to Hungary's energy security has nothing to do with Ukraine's freedom!" he wrote the Hungarian foreign minister.
