Hungary detains 32 Ukrainians who fled across border, agency says

Refugees from the Ukrainian walk along a street. Hungary has detained 32 Ukrainian citizens who fled across the border in a lorry, the Ukrainian border guard agency said on Monday. Marton Monus/dpa

Hungary has detained 32 Ukrainian citizens who fled across the border in a lorry, the Ukrainian border guard agency said on Monday.

"The neighbouring side reported that they had discovered a vehicle and detained 32 Ukrainian citizens," Ukrainian border guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko told the news site Ukrainska Pravda on Monday.

Demchenko acknowledged there has been speculation that the lorry belonged to the Ukrainian military on the basis of its green paint and black number plate, which is normally seen on army vehicles.

But he said the truck is not believed to have come from the military.

There was initially no confirmation from the Hungarian side.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine with the onset of Russia's invasion in February 2022 and men of conscription age are barred from leaving the country with few exceptions.

There are frequent attempts by men trying to illegally flee across the border into neighbouring EU states and Moldova.

The bodies of those who fled have been found in the border river Tisza and in the Carpathian Mountains.