Hungary Summons Russian Ambassador Over Drone Attack Near Ukraine Border

The Hungarian government summoned the Russian ambassador after a major drone attack hit the Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia near the Hungarian border. The ambassador, Evgeny Stanislavov, is expected to arrive at the foreign ministry around noon Thursday to meet with the foreign minister.

New Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced the summons during a press conference in southern Hungary. “The Hungarian government strongly condemns the Russian attack on Transcarpathia,” Magyar said. He added that the foreign minister would ask for information on when Russia and Vladimir Putin plan to end the war that began more than four years ago.

Russia fired at least 800 drones in a daytime barrage targeting about 20 regions of Ukraine, including Transcarpathia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The attack killed at least six people and wounded dozens, including children. It lasted for hours and was one of the longest-lasting assaults by Moscow in the war now in its fifth year.

Transcarpathia is home to a sizable Hungarian minority. Zelenskyy called the summons in Budapest an “important message” and thanked Magyar for his comments. “Moscow has once again shown itself to be a common threat not only to Ukraine, but also to neighbouring countries and Europe as a whole,” Zelenskyy said on social media.

The Russian government has not made any public statements on the summons. The action marks a shift in Hungary’s approach to Moscow. Hungary is a member of both the European Union and NATO.

Background to the Diplomatic Move Magyar defeated the previous leader in an April election and has pledged to change policies developed during 16 years of the prior administration. In March the Russian ambassador posted an open letter on Facebook to Magyar denying that Moscow was involved in helping the former Hungarian leader.

The letter stated it was not worth scaring Hungarians with imaginary Russian threats. The current summons follows a series of drone strikes that reached close to Hungarian territory.