Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced that his government has summoned the Russian ambassador over a massive drone attack near Hungary's border, signaling a significant departure from his predecessor's friendly relations with Moscow. “The Hungarian government strongly condemns the Russian attack on Transcarpathia,” Magyar told journalists. He stated that the Hungarian foreign minister will speak with the Russian ambassador on Thursday morning.
Shift in Foreign Policy
Under the outgoing government, which was voted out of office this month, Hungary blocked aid for Ukraine and attempted to slow its efforts to join the European Union. Magyar explained that his foreign minister will ask “when Russia and Vladimir Putin plan to finally end this bloody war.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded on X, saying: “Thank you for your compassion and strong position!”
Massive Drone Barrage
Russia fired at least 800 drones in a massive daytime barrage across approximately 20 regions of Ukraine on Wednesday, as reported by Peter Beaumont. The strikes came as Kyiv and Moscow traded long-range attacks after a brief ceasefire. Ukrainian monitors detected at least eight salvoes of Russian drones, including some entering from Belarus, with the apparent target being Kyiv’s critical infrastructure. Poland scrambled fighter jets as a preventive measure due to the Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, the Polish army confirmed.
Moscow launched another heavy bombardment early on Thursday, launching 675 drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s air force. It reported that air defenses had downed 652 Russian drones and 41 missiles, with 38 hits recorded across 24 locations. Damage from debris was reported at another 18 locations.
Changes in Russian Border Regions
The governors of two Russian regions bordering Ukraine, both frequent targets of Ukrainian attacks, have stepped down. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod Region, and Alexander Bogomaz, governor of the Bryansk Region, both resigned at their own request, the Kremlin said. Russian media reported that Alexander Shuvaev, a highly decorated veteran, is the new governor of Belgorod, and Yegor Kovalchuk, a banking, legal, and administrative specialist, has become governor of Bryansk. The governor of the border region of Kursk, Alexei Smirnov, was dismissed after a mass incursion by Ukrainian forces in 2024 and jailed earlier this year on corruption charges. There was no word on any future duties for the two outgoing governors.
US Legislative Efforts
Supporters of a bill in the United States to aid Ukraine and sanction Russia have reached a critical threshold that allows them to bypass Republican leadership and force a vote on the House floor in the coming weeks. The legislation seeks to cement US assistance for Ukraine by approving more than $1 billion in security aid and making another $8 billion available in loans. Lawmakers on Wednesday gained 218 signatures on a petition that will force a House vote. While the measure is unlikely to become law, the vote will put lawmakers on record concerning their support for Ukraine. Supporters have called on Donald Trump to act more forcefully to deter Russia and boost Ukraine.
Media Restrictions in Moscow
Moscow authorities have imposed restrictions on the publication of photos and videos showing the aftermath of “terrorist attacks”, including drone strikes, the mayor’s office said. The directive, aimed at “preventing the dissemination of unreliable information”, according to a government website, prevents media, individuals, and emergency services from publishing any pictures or videos of “terrorist acts, including drone attacks” until they appear on websites of the Defense Ministry or city government.
NATO Air Defense Concerns
Russia’s repeated airspace violations of countries on the eastern flank of NATO underline the urgent need to consolidate the alliance’s air defenses against missiles and drones, the leaders of 14 allies said on Wednesday. They also called for greater cooperation in building up defense industry capacity in a joint statement, issued after a meeting of eastern flank allies in Bucharest hosted by Romania’s President Nicusor Dan and Polish President Karol Nawrocki. Romania, Poland, and Baltic states have had their airspace repeatedly breached by Russian drones. Russia has denied targeting NATO states.
