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Foreign ministry warns against travel to Ukraine

Szijjarto: Evacuation from Ukraine ‘impossible’

All staff of Hungary's embassy in Kyiv are working to ensure that everyone seeking assistance is provided it, the foreign minister said on Thursday, but "evacuating people [from the country] is basically impossible".
24. February 2022 21:55

Peter Szijjarto said in a video posted on Facebook that Ukraine’s entire airspace was closed with a ban on civil aviation, while evacuation by road was also impossible.

Four Hungarian Wizz Air aircraft with their crews are stuck in Ukraine, Szijjarto said, adding there were no Hungarians among the crew.

The Hungarian embassy received 60 calls “when telecommunications services were functioning and staff members were not in the basement”, the minister said, adding that the embassy would shelter Hungarians seeking security.

He asked Hungarians to call the consular service’s 24-hour hotline, which is operating with extra staff. On Thursday, the consular service received 80 calls, he said. So far, 191 Hungarians in Ukraine and 154 in Russia have applied for consular protection, he said, adding that the staff were in contact with them.

Transcarpathia has switched to military administration, Szijjarto said.

Concerning lorry drivers in transit, the minister said the government was doing everything to ensure that they continue their journey or find safe haven.

The government is watching developments closely and will take every measure “to protect Hungary and the Hungarian people from this war”, he said.

“Hungary stands by Ukraine and by Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and condemns Russia’s military action,” he said. The government “will do everything to prevent Hungary possibly getting mixed up in the conflict of war,” he added.

Foreign ministry warns against travel to Ukraine

“Travel to Ukraine is not recommended under any circumstances,” the Hungarian foreign ministry said on the website of its consular service on Thursday.

The ministry has asked Hungarian nationals staying in Ukraine to register for consular protection. All Hungarian representations in Ukraine are at the disposal of Hungarians contacting them personally or by phone, the ministry said.

Telephone numbers of the Hungarian embassy and consulate in Kyiv, the chief consulate in Uzhhorod (Ungvar), as well as the consular office in Berehove (Beregszasz) are listed at https://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/ukrajnara-vonatkozo-utazasi-tanacsok220224

Two Hungarian-Ukrainian border stations extend opening hours

The Hungarian-Ukrainian border stations of Lonya-Dzvinkove (Haranglab) and Barabas-Kosyny (Kaszony) have extended their opening hours until 11pm, Hungarian police said on Thursday evening.

Up until Feb. 28 both crossings will be open from 7am to 11pm, they said.

Police said that drivers heading for Hungary have to wait for at least an hour to cross the border.

The measures have been taken in light of extra traffic at the border in connection with the Ukraine crisis.

Ukrainian refugees crossing Hungarian border on foot

Since Thursday morning, at least 400-500 people with suitcases and other luggage have walked across the border from Ukraine to Hungary at Beregsurany, MTI’s correspondent reported at the scene.

Most people were arriving in groups of two or three, many waiting close to the border on the Hungarian side to be picked up by family or friends. Many were young couples carrying small children in their arms or pushing prams.

A young man said there were long queues of cars on the Ukrainian side, most of them with Transcarpathian plates. He said he would stay with a relative living in Hungary, adding that he had been concerned that he may be conscripted into the Ukrainian army had he stayed in Ukraine.

Another young man and his girlfriend said they had had plans to travel to the Netherlands. “We did not know how long the borders would stay open and decided to leave immediately,” they said. They also said they had seen long queues at ATMs because withdrawals were limited, adding that fuel sales at filling stations were also restricted.

MTI has also received reports of many refugees crossing into Hungary on foot at Tiszabecs border station too.

 

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