27 Hungarian Troops Injured in Kosovo Demonstrate Skilled Military Training
Hungarian Troops Praised After Injuries in Kosovo Clashes
Hungarian troops have demonstrated their competence and reliability in every task assigned to them, whether at home or abroad, according to Hungary’s Defence Minister, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. The troops were involved in clashes with protesters in Kosovo, where they were part of the KFOR international force. Of the 30 troops injured in the confrontation, 19 were Hungarian, and three had been shot. None of the casualties were thought to be in any danger.
Some of the injuries sustained by the Hungarian soldiers were caused by broken bones and burns, according to a KFOR statement. The seriously injured servicemen are now in a stable condition, Mr Szalay-Bobrovniczky confirmed after visiting them on their return to Hungary. All the injured troops will be treated at the Honvéd military hospital in Budapest.
The Hungarian battalion had been deployed to support an Italian-US force to disperse rioters outside a town hall in Zvecan on Monday afternoon. KFOR attempted to clear an area that had been blockaded for nine months by supporters of a Kosovo Serb politician. Clashes erupted as the troops used tear gas to break up the crowd.
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed that four Hungarian troops had been treated for wounds caused by shrapnel, one of whom had to undergo surgery. A Hungarian military aircraft was dispatched to take the injured soldiers home on Monday evening.
