Hungary is bolstering its defenses along its border with Ukraine, deploying newly acquired air patrol and air defense systems in response to escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict, Bloomberg reports.
Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky announced the move late Wednesday in a Facebook video, citing concerns over potential spillover from the intensified Russian attacks.
The decision comes after a significant escalation in Russian missile strikes last week, some of which targeted western Ukraine near the Hungarian border. This surge in attacks followed the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election.
The situation further deteriorated Thursday with reports from Ukraine that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in an attack. This marks the first reported use of such a long-range weapon, capable of striking targets thousands of kilometers away, since the war began. The attack followed Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).
Ukraine’s use of ATACMS, reportedly targeting a military facility in Russia, was made possible by the outgoing Biden administration, which authorized limited use of the weapons within Russia.
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