EU country limits complimentary accommodation for Ukrainians
New Hungarian regulations regarding benefits for Ukrainian refugees took effect on Wednesday. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Hungary has implemented stricter rules regarding accommodation for Ukrainian refugees seeking free housing. Under new regulations that took effect on Wednesday, refugees arriving from areas of Ukraine considered by the Hungarian government to be unaffected by the conflict will no longer qualify for free accommodation.
Like many other EU countries, Hungary has previously provided shelter and financial support to Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia. However, there has been increasing public frustration in various nations regarding refugees perceived as taking advantage of the system without a genuine need for assistance.
The Hungarian government plans to revise the list of Ukrainian regions classified as directly affected by the conflict on a monthly basis. Currently, this list includes all of the country’s regions except for those in Western Ukraine.
Effective immediately, individuals arriving from regions deemed unaffected will only receive temporary government-sponsored accommodation. There are exceptions for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, minors with one legal guardian, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a pro-refugee NGO supported by the George Soros-founded Open Society Foundations and similar organizations, has criticized the new policies as “draconian.” They warn that these regulations could leave hundreds, including ethnic Hungarians with dual citizenship, homeless.
A significant Hungarian minority resides in western Ukraine. Prior to the conflict, Budapest condemned the Ukrainian government for what it saw as the imposition of discriminatory laws that favored Ukrainian culture at the expense of minority languages in education and media. In turn, Kiev has expressed concerns over Hungary's perceived encroachment on its sovereignty through the issue of dual citizenship.
Earlier this year, Ukraine undertook a military service reform aimed at increasing conscription rates, seeking assistance from EU countries to repatriate eligible men by putting pressure on refugees.
Some countries, like Poland, have shown readiness to help in bringing back military-age men. Conversely, Hungary, which has been critical of the EU’s strategy regarding the conflict with Russia, has declined such requests.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Like many other EU countries, Hungary has previously provided shelter and financial support to Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia. However, there has been increasing public frustration in various nations regarding refugees perceived as taking advantage of the system without a genuine need for assistance.
The Hungarian government plans to revise the list of Ukrainian regions classified as directly affected by the conflict on a monthly basis. Currently, this list includes all of the country’s regions except for those in Western Ukraine.
Effective immediately, individuals arriving from regions deemed unaffected will only receive temporary government-sponsored accommodation. There are exceptions for vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, minors with one legal guardian, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a pro-refugee NGO supported by the George Soros-founded Open Society Foundations and similar organizations, has criticized the new policies as “draconian.” They warn that these regulations could leave hundreds, including ethnic Hungarians with dual citizenship, homeless.
A significant Hungarian minority resides in western Ukraine. Prior to the conflict, Budapest condemned the Ukrainian government for what it saw as the imposition of discriminatory laws that favored Ukrainian culture at the expense of minority languages in education and media. In turn, Kiev has expressed concerns over Hungary's perceived encroachment on its sovereignty through the issue of dual citizenship.
Earlier this year, Ukraine undertook a military service reform aimed at increasing conscription rates, seeking assistance from EU countries to repatriate eligible men by putting pressure on refugees.
Some countries, like Poland, have shown readiness to help in bringing back military-age men. Conversely, Hungary, which has been critical of the EU’s strategy regarding the conflict with Russia, has declined such requests.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
