Budapest: Hungary is enhancing its air defense capabilities near its northeastern border with Ukraine, reacting to heightened tensions following the United States’ decision to permit Ukraine to target Russian territory using long-range missiles.
Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky announced the decision in a Facebook video, stating, “The Russian-Ukrainian war is expanding more than ever, and we are now in its most dangerous phase.”
He attributed the escalation to Western powers enabling Ukraine to strike Russian territories with advanced weaponry, prompting Russia to revise its nuclear doctrine. Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved amendments to the country’s nuclear policy, affirming its right to deploy nuclear weapons if weapons of mass destruction are used against Russia or its allies. The doctrine also allows their use in response to conventional attacks on Russia or Belarus.
In the video, Szalay-Bobrovniczky elaborated on Hungary’s preparations: “To prepare for any scenario, I have ordered the deployment of our recently acquired air control and air defense systems in the northeast.” This decision follows a Defense Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
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On November 19, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian A. Nichols confirmed that the Biden administration had authorized Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to target sites within Russian territory. Ukrainian forces have already utilized U.S.-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles in their first reported strikes inside Russia.
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Subsequent reports on November 20 indicated that the U.S. might have also approved Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow missiles—jointly developed with the United Kingdom—for strikes against Russian targets.
