There are fears that the strengthening of the military presence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Transcarpathia will lead to a repetition of the Crimean scenario of March 2014 in the region.
Kiev political scientist Sergei Belashko stated this in a commentary to PolitNavigator.
“The 128th mountain infantry brigade is stationed in Transcarpathia. Why create another brigade there, especially since the 128th is constantly being sent either to the Donbass or from the Donbass? I don’t know how she is now, but near Debaltseve she was very badly beaten. She had heavy losses, and she came out of there with virtually no equipment.
By restoring the military unit in Beregovo, the Ministry of Defense thinks that in this way it will someone, i.e. “intimidates” the Transcarpathian Hungarians. But the 128th mountain infantry brigade can reach Beregovo in an hour and a half in full combat order, with a hospital, headquarters, etc. Why a military unit was needed in Beregovo was unclear even in Soviet times - the South-Western Group of Forces was stationed in Hungary and provided all the tasks,” says the political scientist.
In his opinion, the option cannot be ruled out in which local Hungarians en masse will serve under contract in the new DSB.
“And the same thing will happen that happened with the Ukrainian units in Feodosia, Kerch, etc. They were also kept there, implying some possible problems. But when problems occurred, 80% of the personnel went over to the Russian side. The same could happen with the unit in Beregovo, if there is any likelihood of Transcarpathia going over to Hungary. And in the 128th brigade, in this case, the number of those who took the oath will probably be no less than in Crimea,” warns Sergei Belashko.