Ukrainian Town of Berehove Divided Over Support for Viktor Orbán
In Berehove, a small town in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region with an ethnic Hungarian majority, local sentiment regarding Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán contrasts sharply with the rest of Ukraine. While most Ukrainians hope for Orbán’s defeat in the upcoming parliamentary elections due to his Kremlin-friendly stance and opposition to Kyiv, many Berehove residents support him. They credit Orbán with providing financial assistance, Hungarian passports, and advocating for their language rights, despite deteriorating diplomatic relations between Budapest and Kyiv. Orbán has leveraged the plight of ethnic Hungarians abroad to justify hostile policies toward Ukraine, including blocking EU financial packages and hindering Ukraine’s EU accession. Critics argue he exaggerates grievances to serve domestic political goals and align with Russia. However, for locals like László, Orbán remains a protector of Hungarian identity. This division highlights the complex interplay of ethnic loyalty, geopolitical tension, and local needs in a border region deeply tethered to neighboring Hungary, even as Ukraine fights for its sovereignty against Russian aggression.
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Ukrainian Town of Berehove Divided Over Support for Viktor Orbán
In Berehove, a small town in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region with an ethnic Hungarian majority, local sentiment regarding Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán contrasts sharply with the rest of Ukraine. While most Ukrainians hope for Orbán’s defeat in the upcoming parliamentary elections due to his Kremlin-friendly stance and opposition to Kyiv, many Berehove residents support him. They credit Orbán with providing financial assistance, Hungarian passports, and advocating for their language rights, despite deteriorating diplomatic relations between Budapest and Kyiv. Orbán has leveraged the plight of ethnic Hungarians abroad to justify hostile policies toward Ukraine, including blocking EU financial packages and hindering Ukraine’s EU accession. Critics argue he exaggerates grievances to serve domestic political goals and align with Russia. However, for locals like László, Orbán remains a protector of Hungarian identity. This division highlights the complex interplay of ethnic loyalty, geopolitical tension, and local needs in a border region deeply tethered to neighboring Hungary, even as Ukraine fights for its sovereignty against Russian aggression.
The Guardian