Hungary
A group of Russian websites is publishing confidential data of Ukrainian military personnel and their families, using technical services in Slovakia. The goal is public humiliation and intimidation, which is part of information-psychological warfare.
The EU has not yet agreed on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, which the European Commission proposed on June 10. Slovakia is blocking it due to unresolved issues of gas supplies after 2027.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for the resignation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and rejected Brussels' economic recommendations regarding fiscal policy. The Hungarian government refused the EC's demands for permanent fiscal measures to reduce the budget deficit, citing national priorities.
40 years after the establishment of the Schengen area, internal border controls are being tightened, limiting freedoms. Poland has introduced controls at its borders with Germany and Lithuania, and other EU countries are also strengthening checks.
An express analysis showed that about 2,300 people died in 12 European cities from the severe heatwave that ended last week. Climate change made temperatures significantly higher, leading to 1,500 additional deaths.
Europe has been engulfed by wildfires, record heat, and storms. In Portugal, 284 deaths from overheating have been recorded, while other countries have experienced large-scale destruction and paralyzed infrastructure.
Greece's main archaeological site, the Acropolis, was partially closed on Tuesday due to a four-day severe heatwave. Temperatures in Athens will reach 38 degrees Celsius, and in other regions up to 42 degrees.
The Dzvinkove-Lonya border crossing point on the border with Hungary has resumed operations in its usual mode. Earlier, its activity was temporarily suspended due to bad weather.
Due to bad weather, border crossing operations have been temporarily suspended at the Dzvinkove-Lonya checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border. For border crossing, it is recommended to use the nearest checkpoints Kosyno or Velyka Palad.
A 19-year-old Lviv resident was detained in Zakarpattia for the thirteenth time attempting to illegally cross the border. He was trying to get to Hungary, seeking better living conditions.
Night bad weather in Hungary and Slovakia led to delays of a number of Ukrzaliznytsia trains that were waiting for the transfer of Ukrainian passengers. Ukrzaliznytsia waited for passengers in Chop, but serious delays occurred, in particular, the Vienna – Kyiv train is delayed by more than 8 hours.
Great Britain has imposed sanctions on two Russians and one legal entity for the development of chemical weapons. Among them are the deputy commander of the Russian Armed Forces' radiation, chemical, and biological protection troops and an institute that supplies grenades with chemical substances.
As of the morning of July 8, Ukrzaliznytsia updated the list of trains delayed due to bad weather, including train No. 749/750 Vienna-Kyiv, which will be delayed by eight hours. Stormy weather conditions in Zakarpattia, Slovakia, and Hungary caused changes in passenger train schedules.
According to Barrot, the European Union is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia, which will be the toughest in the last three years. The restrictions will be aimed at the financial and energy resources of the Kremlin, and may also affect foreign companies that help circumvent previous sanctions.
Stormy weather conditions in Zakarpattia, Slovakia, and Hungary are causing changes in passenger train schedules. Flights from Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava are delayed, and the contact network near Barkasovo and Skole has also been damaged.
Ukraine has fulfilled all conditions for starting negotiations on EU membership in key areas. Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna announced readiness to open three clusters as early as July.
Vice Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna stated that the start of Ukraine's EU accession talks does not require unanimous support from all 27 member states. Hungary's blocking has pushed the EU to seek legal solutions for continuing European integration.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced conditions for ending the war, including recognition of annexed territories and demilitarization of Ukraine. He also demands the lifting of sanctions, the return of assets, and Ukraine's neutral status.
Extreme heat has caused a critical drop in water levels in rivers across Central and Eastern Europe. In Hungary, the water level in the Tisza has decreased by 60%, and in the Danube by 40%, leading to the suspension of ferry services between Bulgaria and Romania.
A bus carrying Ukrainians, en route from Lviv to a dance festival, was involved in an accident in Hungary. As a result of the crash, 21 people were injured, and four Ukrainians sustained serious injuries.
A bus with Ukrainian registration was involved in a road accident in Hungary between Kunszentmárton and Tiszafüred. 19 people were injured, including 17 underage citizens of Ukraine, two of whom sustained serious injuries.
Slovakia has blocked the 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia for the second time, demanding guarantees from the European Commission regarding the RePowerEU initiative. This initiative envisages abandoning Russian gas by 2028, which, according to Slovakia, will have negative economic consequences.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Kyiv of attempting to influence the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections. According to him, Ukrainian special services are operating in Hungary with the aim of bringing a pro-Ukrainian government to power.
In the first quarter of 2025, housing prices in the European Union increased by 5. 7%, and rental prices by 3.2% compared to the same period in 2024. Since 2010, housing prices in the EU have risen by 57.9%, and rental prices by 27.8%.
The European Union may soon adopt the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. Slovakia has received guarantees from the European Commission regarding a gradual phase-out of Russian energy carriers by 2027, which removes obstacles to the approval of new restrictions.
Hungary's Ambassador to Ukraine, Antal Heizer, was summoned to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry due to attempts to draw Ukraine into Hungary's internal political struggle. The Ukrainian side considers these actions deplorable and offensive, especially against the backdrop of the Hungarian people's assistance to Ukraine.
Denmark insists on applying Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Hungary due to violations of fundamental rights. Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre in Aarhus mentioned Budapest's blocking of Ukraine's membership.
Support for Ukraine's EU accession in Poland has dropped from 85% to 35% since 2022. Economic concerns and refugee fatigue are influencing sentiment, while Poland's new president prioritizes the issue of the Volyn tragedy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reacted to the appearance of caricatures of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Hungary. The Hungarian government is accused of distracting attention from economic problems.
A 49-year-old Chernivtsi resident set up a scheme for illegally transporting conscripts abroad for 6,000 euros per person. He was detained while receiving 12,000 euros for two men.