Hungary has officially condemned Russian cyberattacks against Western countries and expressed solidarity with its allies who have been targeted. Foreign Minister Anita Orbán expressed her support for partners after the EU and the UK simultaneously imposed sanctions on Russian hacking groups and intelligence officers involved in large-scale attacks on government and infrastructure targets.
Briefly about the main points
- Hungary has condemned the Russian cyber-attacks and expressed its solidarity with its allies.
- On 13 July, the EU and the UK imposed sanctions on Russian hackers.
- The sanctions target staff of the GRU and associated organisations.
- The French Foreign Minister has summoned the Russian ambassador.
- The US, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic have backed sanctions and the strengthening of cyber defences.
Hungary’s statement: position and arguments
The Budapest authorities have openly condemned Russian cyberattacks, directed against Western countries. The Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs Anita Orban She emphasised her solidarity with all allies who have been affected by malicious activities in cyberspace. She emphasised that Hungary advocates for the preservation of a free, open and secure cyberspace, as well as for compliance with international law and voluntary norms of responsible state behaviour.
Orbán’s statement noted that recent reports from NATO, the EU and the UK point to an alarming trend of increasing large-scale cyberattacks, which form part of a broader hybrid campaign by Russia aimed at undermining the security and unity of Western countries.
EU and UK sanctions: who are they aimed at?
On 13 July 2026, the European Union and the United Kingdom simultaneously imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and legal entities believed to be involved in large-scale cyberattacks. The sanctions list includes GRU personnel and hacking groups linked to Russian intelligence.
The sanctions involve the freezing of assets and a ban on entry to EU countries and the UK. For the first time, the list includes not only individual hackers but also organisations providing technical support for cyberattacks, which may complicate the activities of Russian cyber agents abroad.
- Freezing the assets of individuals and organisations subject to sanctions
- Entry ban into EU countries and the UK
- The sanctions cover both hackers and technical organisations
International response and next steps
The French Foreign Minister announced that the Russian ambassador had been summoned to provide explanations regarding the cyber-attacks. Representatives from the US, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic issued statements in support of the sanctions and emphasised the need to strengthen cyber security.
Russia has traditionally rejected accusations of cyberattacks, describing them as politically motivated. At the same time, not all EU countries have publicly specified exactly which of their targets were affected by the attacks.
Western Coordination and New Trends in Cybersecurity
The synchronisation of EU and UK sanctions indicates a growing level of coordination amongst Western countries in response to cyber threats. For the first time, the sanctions apply not only to individual perpetrators, but also to organisations that provide the infrastructure for the attacks.
According to the EU, the attacks took place between 2024 and 2026 and targeted government networks, the energy sector, the media and electoral systems. This points to the systemic nature of the threat and the need to strengthen international cooperation in the field of cybersecurity.
What remains unknown
The details of the technical analysis of the attacks – specifically, which incidents formed the basis for the latest round of sanctions – have not been made public. It is also unclear whether NATO or individual countries are planning further measures in response to the cyber-attacks.
Some EU countries do not disclose exactly which of their facilities have been affected, making it difficult to assess the scale and consequences of the attacks.
