Hungary Summons Russian Envoy Over 800-Drone Strike on Transcarpathia, Ending Wartime Emergency Rule
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 14
Hungary Summons Russian Envoy Over 800-Drone Strike on Transcarpathia, Ending Wartime Emergency Rule
7 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 14
Budapest called in Ambassador Evgeny Stanislavov on Thursday after Russia’s mass drone attack hit Transcarpathia, a western Ukrainian region with a large Hungarian minority.
At least 800 drones struck about 20 Ukrainian regions on Wednesday in one of the war’s longest barrages, killing at least six people; attacks continued Thursday, with seven reported dead in Kyiv.
Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said targeting Transcarpathia was “completely unacceptable” and urged Russia to secure an immediate ceasefire, while the Russian embassy said only military-linked sites were hit.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the summons as an “important message,” and the move underscored Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s sharp break from Viktor Orbán’s years of warmer ties with Moscow.
Magyar also scrapped Hungary’s wartime and pandemic emergency regimes, saying the country was “returning to normality” after years of decree-based rule.
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.