Hungary’s new government breaks with Orbán era after condemning Russian strike on Transcarpathia

Hungary’s new government has sharply shifted tone toward Moscow after Prime Minister Péter Magyar condemned Russia’s drone attack on Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region and announced that Budapest would summon the Russian ambassador over the strikes.

The move marks a significant departure from the approach of former Hungarian governments under Viktor Orbán, which had repeatedly faced criticism for avoiding direct condemnation of Russian military actions close to Hungary’s border.

Transcarpathia (also known as Zakarpattia Oblast) is Ukraine’s westernmost region, a mountainous area in the Carpathian Mountains that borders Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Poland, and is home to a significant ethnic Hungarian minority.

Speaking after the first meeting of his newly sworn-in government, Magyar said Hungary “strongly condemns the Russian attack on Transcarpathia” following Russia’s large-scale drone assault on western Ukraine on 13 May.

The Hungarian prime minister confirmed that Foreign Minister Anita Orbán had summoned the Russian ambassador to Budapest for a meeting on Thursday morning in response to the strikes.

The attack was particularly sensitive for Hungary because it targeted Ukraine’s westernmost Transcarpathia region, home to a significant ethnic Hungarian minority and bordering several EU and NATO member states.

According to Anita Orbán, at least five drone strikes were recorded in the region, including hits on energy and transport infrastructure near Svaliava and in Uzhhorod.

“One strike in Svaliava hit a transformer and a railway station, while another in Uzhhorod damaged an industrial facility,” she said in a video statement released shortly after the attacks.

“We deeply condemn the attack and hope nobody was injured,” the minister added, stressing that Budapest remained in direct contact with Hungarian consular authorities in the region.

The response contrasted sharply with the policies of former foreign minister Péter Szijjártó, who had never summoned the Russian ambassador after previous attacks on Transcarpathia despite repeated criticism from independent Hungarian media and opposition figures.

How Hungary collaborated with Russia to remove oligarchs, companies, and banks from the EU sanctions list

Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok also condemned what Ukrainian authorities described as the largest drone strike against Transcarpathia since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Budapest’s reaction, describing Magyar’s statement as an “important message”.

“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 wrote on social media. “The attack is still ongoing. The first missiles have been launched. Our common position matters for ending this brutal war”, he added.

Important message condemning Russia’s attack on Ukraine from @magyarpeterMP. 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. The attack is still ongoing. The first missiles have been launched.…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 13, 2026

The developments come as concerns grow across Central and Eastern Europe about the increasing regional spillover effects of the war, including drone incursions, airspace violations and attacks near NATO borders.

On the same day, Moldova confirmed that a Russian drone had violated its airspace after entering from the direction of the Ukrainian city of Mohyliv-Podilskyi before continuing southward.

Stray Ukrainian drones test Baltic solidarity as attacks near Russia intensify

Poland also scrambled military aircraft in response to Russia’s massive aerial assault on Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Latvia announced plans to deepen defence cooperation with Ukraine after two Ukrainian drones reportedly entered Latvian territory last week and struck oil storage facilities.

The incident triggered political turmoil in Riga and led to the resignation of Latvia’s defence minister after criticism that anti-drone systems had not been deployed quickly enough.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa acknowledged failures in the country’s response systems, while Ukrainian officials said the drones had entered Latvian territory because of Russian electronic warfare interference.

Meeting Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on the sidelines of the Bucharest Nine summit in Romania, Zelenskyy said Kyiv would send Ukrainian military specialists to Latvia to help improve airspace protection and counter-drone capabilities.

Ukraine would assist Latvia in building “a multilayered air defence system against different kinds of threats”, Zelenskyy said.

“We will send our experts to Latvia to exchange experience and provide direct assistance in protecting airspace,” he added.

Rinkēvičs later confirmed that Latvia and Ukraine were preparing a long-term bilateral defence cooperation agreement.

The growing security concerns reflect fears among NATO eastern flank states that the war is increasingly affecting neighbouring countries directly, even without deliberate escalation by Moscow.

Several drones and missiles linked to the war have previously entered or crashed in Poland, Romania and the Baltic states since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Sources: European Pravda, Suspilne

Caption: Hungary Prime Minister Peter Magyar (R) and Foreign Minister Anita Orban attend the appointment ceremony of ministers of the Tisza government at the presidential Alexander Palace in Budapest, Hungary, 12 May 2026. President Tamas Sulyok appointed the ministers of Peter Magyar’s government. EPA/Robert Hegedus