(Photo: MTI / Zoltán Gergely Kelemen)

Many soldiers independent of one another said that even meeting the deadline at the end of November will be difficult, and there is no way the fence will be completed by August 31. The portal reports that currently 535 soldiers are working on the project, however, these numbers are expected to increase to 900 in order to meet deadlines.

The portal said that Minister of Defence Csaba Hende promised to pay soldiers a daily gross of HUF 5,000 if they finish construction by the end of November. However, the soldiers say that they are required to work 12 hours a day “in the middle of nowhere in extremely hot weather”.

Citing soldiers working on the fence, the portal reports that some passers-by bless the soldiers, even applaud them for building the fence and for protecting the country, while others condemn them and call them ruling “Fidesz-hirelings”. Soldiers claim that the pressure from the outside world has them divided, and they no longer converse while working.

“This is not the reason why I become a soldier,” a serviceman told the Hungarian daily, asking for his name to remain anonymous. He added that other fellow servicemen are also considering quitting the army. “We are human targets, being taken advantage of by the government,” the soldier reportedly said.