Hungarian Foreign Minister summons Russian ambassador over drone attack on Transcarpathia

During the first cabinet meeting of the Tisza government on Wednesday, Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that Foreign Minister Anita Orbán had summoned the Russian ambassador for a meeting on Thursday morning in response to Wednesday’s Russian drone attack in Ukraine, which also targeted Transcarpathia, home to the Hungarian ethnic minority living in the country. Echoing the words of Foreign Minister Anita Orbán, who published a video statement shortly before the meeting, he strongly condemned the attack on behalf of the Hungarian government.

The Prime Minister noted that this was the most intense drone attack to hit Transcarpathia since the outbreak of the war, with strikes hitting Mukachevo, Uzhhorod, Soliv, and several smaller towns. The management of the Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) informed Transport Minister Dávid Vitézy that Hungarian railway workers who were at the Chop station near the Hungarian border had to be sent to shelters, but they have since been brought across to Hungarian territory and are safe.

“The Hungarian government strongly condemns the Russian attack against Transcarpathia, which is also inhabited by Hungarians. Anita Orbán, the new government’s Foreign Minister has summoned the Russian ambassador to the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 11:30 a.m. tomorrow; she will convey the same message to him and request information on when Russia and Vladimir Putin plan to finally bring this bloody war—which began more than four years ago—to an end,” Magyar said.

The Prime Minister's reaction marks a sharp shift compared to the previous administration's approach. Péter Szijjártó and his ministry used to be very keen on summoning ambassadors; the former minister had summoned the American, Austrian, German, Finnish, Danish, and Ukrainian ambassadors or their representatives on multiple occasions to call them to account for statements made by a state leader or other prominent figure from their country. However, he did not summon the Russian ambassador even when it was revealed two years ago that Russian hackers had breached the IT system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2022.

President Tamás Sulyok reacted to the Russian drone attacks on Transcarpathia on Facebook. In his post, the president wrote:

“Transcarpathia has been hit by the most extensive Russian drone attack to date, reaching all the way to Uzhhorod. We have no reports of injuries. I am praying for the people of Transcarpathia! I condemn the attack; everything must be done to ensure that this war finally comes to an end!”