On October 14, 2026, Ambassador Fedir Shandor, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Hungary, visited the Faculty of Social Sciences at Eötvös Loránd University.
The Ambassador arrived at the Lágymányos Campus accompanied by First Secretary Marianna Melnyk. He was welcomed by Zoltán Gábor Szűcs-Zágoni, Vice Dean for International Affairs at the Faculty of Social Sciences; Professor Andrew Ryder, Director of the Institute of Political and International Studies; Krisztina Mosdóczy, Head of the Dean’s Office; and Márton Krasznai, Leader of the Erasmus Mundus Project in Water Governance and Water Diplomacy.
During the meeting, the Ambassador gained insight into the educational programmes and research activities at the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the parties also discussed opportunities for higher education cooperation with Ukrainian universities.
Following his meeting with faculty leaders, the Ambassador joined university students for an engaging discussion, answering questions from Byanca Szabó Peredo, who moderated the event, and from students in the audience.
Professor, Soldier, Diplomat
The insights shared by Fedir Shandor, who has Hungarian roots, were particularly relevant to ELTE students studying the social sciences and considering careers in diplomacy. Before entering military service and taking on diplomatic responsibilities, he had built a distinguished academic career. After studying History and Law, he earned a Candidate of Sciences Degree in Sociology and later a Doctorate in Philosophy. At Uzhhorod National University, he served as Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work and later as Vice Rector. He gained international recognition during the war when, even while serving as a Sergeant, he continued teaching online sociology courses to his students.
The Social Consequences of War
The Ambassador introduced students to Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Black Swan theory, which describes unexpected, high-impact events that fall outside established assumptions and are rationalized only after they occur. Ambassador Shandor views the war in Ukraine as just such an event—a Black Swan. But he also extended the concept to the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Accustomed to the comforts of life in the 21st century, people may surprise even themselves when they discover what they can do to survive.
Discussing the war in Ukraine, he described it as a new form of technology-driven warfare centered on drones. One of its gravest dangers, he explained, is that a machine cannot determine whether the people it detects are soldiers or civilians. As a result, even children can easily become victims of war.
The Ambassador also addressed the long-term social consequences of armed conflict. Demobilized soldiers cannot return to civilian life overnight, he said. Their reintegration poses serious challenges not only for the veterans themselves, but also for their families and the wider communities around them.
The War in a Global Context
Ambassador Shandor described the war in Ukraine as a cultural struggle rather than simply a battle over resources. He also noted that, in moral terms, most United Nations member states stand with Ukraine. At the same time, countries are often inclined to treat wars beyond their borders as distant problems that do not affect them directly, the Ambassador added. Governments tend to focus primarily on protecting the safety and sense of comfort of their own populations.
When a student asked whether Ukrainians who had fled the country should be encouraged to return, the Ambassador said he did not wish to judge anyone who chose to build a life abroad.
No one can be forced to choose Ukraine, he said—the door should remain open to them. Ukrainians living abroad can also support the country by advocating for it when international assistance is needed.
Responding to another student question, Fedir Shandor said that he currently considered Ukraine’s accession to the European Union a higher priority than negotiations with NATO.
A Message to University Students
According to the Ambassador, younger generations are increasingly focused on seeking comfort and holding on to it. People can choose to live simply by satisfying their instincts, he said, or they can set higher goals for themselves: striving to do what is right, contributing to their communities, and helping those in need.
From this perspective, political labels are less important. Ambassador Shandor said that he did not define himself as either liberal or conservative, cosmopolitan or nationalist. Instead, he considered himself someone who wanted to communicate messages that matter.
Speaking as a former university professor, he expressed concern that many people now get their information from social media and follow influencers who lack credibility. TikTok and similar platforms are businesses, he emphasized, and providing reliable information is not their primary purpose.
His advice to young people was simple and direct: listen to experts, and read as many books as possible.