Hungary has summoned Russia’s ambassador to Budapest following a major Russian drone attack that reached Ukraine’s western Transcarpathian region as well, home to the largest Hungarian community in Ukraine.

According to government statements, the country’s ambassador Yevgeny Stanislavov arrived at Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly before 11:30 AM on Thursday and left less than half an hour later after being formally summoned by Foreign Minister Anita Orbán.

Biggest attack on the region since the war began

Hungarian officials described Wednesday’s assault as the most severe attack affecting Transcarpathia since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Several settlements, including Munkács (Mukachevo), Szolyva (Svaliava) and Ungvár (Uzhhorod), reportedly came under attack.

The strike also affected areas close to the Hungarian border. Hungarian railway workers stationed near Csap (Chop), an important railway hub near Hungary, were temporarily moved into shelters before later being transported safely back to Hungary, reports Telex.

The Hungarian government condemned the attack, calling it unacceptable that a region inhabited by ethnic Hungarians had been targeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later thanked the Hungarian leadership for its solidarity and support following the drone strikes.

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Noticeable shift in the new government’s approach

The move marks a significant change in Hungary’s diplomatic stance towards Moscow. In recent years, Hungary’s foreign ministry frequently summoned ambassadors from Western countries — including the United States, Germany and Ukraine — over political disagreements or public remarks.

However, the Moscow’s ambassador had not previously been summoned even after serious incidents linked to Russia, including alleged cyberattacks against Hungary’s foreign ministry systems in 2022 and earlier Russian strikes reaching Transcarpathia.

Political analysts in Budapest see Thursday’s meeting as one of the clearest signals yet that the Hungarian government is willing to publicly confront Russia when attacks directly threaten the security of the Hungarian minority living across the border in western Ukraine.

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Featured image: MTI/Tamás Purger