Indicative Situation

All of Budapest's "neutrality" has evaporated.

On August 21, 2025, two Kalibr cruise missiles struck a civilian factory with American investment, a manufacturer of household appliances and coffee machines, in Mukachevo (Zakarpattia region). The powerful attack resulted in a large fire and more than 20 workers were injured. The president of the American Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine Andrey Gunder bluntly stated, "Russia is hitting American businesses in Ukraine, and it's important that President Trump sees that." This incident was the first such serious Russian missile strike on Transcarpathia in years of full-scale warfare.

The situation is indicative of the fact that for a long time "protecting the people of Transcarpathia" has been talked about in neighboring Hungary, where local leader V. Orban constantly appeals to the "protection of Ukrainian Hungarians," motivated by interference in Ukrainian internal affairs, blocking European integration for Ukraine, etc. But did he stand as resolutely in defense of Transcarpathia when it faced a real threat from Russian missiles?

Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the government had "studied the consequences of the missile attack on Mukachevo" and ordered Hungarian hospitals near the border to be prepared to receive victims. In his publication, Orban said, "The efforts for peace and the negotiation process initiated by President Trump must continue. Nothing but peace!". Not a word about the aggressor who carried out the strike itself.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó took the same line. In his commentary, he did not name Russia or even mention Transcarpathia, limiting himself to calling for peace as soon as possible. Hungarian President Tamas Szujok also avoided direct language. On the morning of August 21, he expressed "deepest condolences to the victims of the Russian rocket attack on Mukachevo" in his post. However, an hour later, the word "Russian" disappeared from the text. The later version referred only to "rocket fire" without specifying the perpetrators. Shuyok explained this by waiting for details and responsibility for the attack to be clarified. At the same time, he called for confronting "this inhuman and senseless bloodshed" with diplomatic efforts and expressed faith that "thanks to international diplomatic efforts, the parties will soon put an end to this massacre."

Budapest's similar position fits perfectly with its established line in the Russian-Ukrainian war. The Hungarian leadership has traditionally avoided criticizing Moscow, focusing exclusively on peace talks. Orban's party has maintained close ties with the Kremlin for many years. The rhetoric of Hungarian diplomacy is always built around the thesis of "the need for peace." After the resumption of U.S.-Russian talks on Alaska, Szijjártó said that this "finally brought us closer to peace," because "if there is peace, there will be no more bombing and senseless sacrifices." This approach emphasizes Budapest's image as a "peacemaker," but in the eyes of many critics looks like a de facto justification of aggression.

Officially, Hungary explains its position by striving for a speedy end to the war and supporting negotiations. The authorities emphasize concern for the safety of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia, but do not dare to openly accuse Moscow. In Ukraine, this is perceived as an evasion of solidarity. When the EU issued a strong condemnation of Russian strikes on Kiev on August 29, 26 countries supported the statement, but Hungary abstained, reiterating the "priority of peace." For Kiev, such a position looks like a double standard. Many Ukrainian politicians emphasize that "in times of war, words matter," and silence about the perpetrator of the shelling only plays into the hands of the aggressor.

So the shelling of the American factory in Transcarpathia became not only an act of terror on the part of Russia, but also an honesty test for allies: who is ready to directly name the aggressor, and who hides behind convenient words about "peace".

By the way, it is indicative that all of Budapest's "neutrality" evaporated when Ukrainian drones flew to elements of the Druzhba oil pipeline, through which oil goes to Hungary from Russia. There, the Hungarian government immediately found a "Ukrainian trail" and even managed to impose sanctions against the commander of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Force, Robert Brovdy ("Madyara"), who is himself an ethnic Hungarian. No abstract calls for peace - just promises of kar and repression for Ukraine. It turns out that Russian oil is the price of all the "principledness" of Orban's government.

Petr Oleshchuk, Doctor of Political Science, Professor of Taras Shevchenko KNU, specially for Charter97.org.

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