Hungary Summons Russian Envoy After Drone Strike Kills at Least 3 in Western Ukraine
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 14
Hungary Summons Russian Envoy After Drone Strike Kills at Least 3 in Western Ukraine
6 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 14
Hungary said it will summon Russia’s ambassador on Thursday after a daytime drone attack on western Ukraine hit critical infrastructure and killed at least three people.
Foreign Minister Anita Orban is set to condemn strikes on ethnic Hungarian areas in Zakarpattia and ask when Moscow plans to end the war, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said.
Poland scrambled fighter jets during the attack, underscoring how strikes near NATO territory are spilling into a wider regional security concern.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called Budapest’s move an important message, while Russia’s embassy in Budapest did not immediately comment.
The rebuke marks a sharper line from Hungary, whose previous government under Viktor Orban had kept comparatively close ties with Moscow after the 2022 invasion.
Why did Russia attack a Ukrainian region with a Hungarian minority, risking its key ally in the EU?
With pro-Kremlin Viktor Orbán gone, will other silent dissenters on Ukraine policy now emerge within the EU?
Is Hungary's tough new stance on Russia sustainable while it remains dependent on Russian energy?
From Orbán to Realignment: Hungary’s Historic Response to Russia’s 800-Drone Assault on Ukraine, May 2026
Overview
On May 13, 2026, Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack across Ukraine, causing severe damage in several regions, including Kyiv and Zakarpattia. The attack resulted in fatalities and injuries, highlighting the ongoing threat to Ukraine’s civilian population and infrastructure. In response, Hungary took an unprecedented step by summoning Russia’s ambassador, marking a significant shift from its previous pro-Russian stance. This move signals a turning point in Hungary’s foreign policy, reflecting both the impact of the attacks on ethnic Hungarians in Zakarpattia and the broader regional security concerns shared by Ukraine’s neighbors.