In the capital of Hungary, Budapest, the detention of employees of the Ukrainian "Oschadbank" has caused international resonance. As reported by Andriy Sibiga, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Hungarian authorities are holding seven bank employees who were in the process of transporting cash and precious metals between Austria and Ukraine.
Sibiga noted that these employees were managing two bank vehicles that were detained, although the exact reasons for such action remain unclear. "The situation is such that the Hungarian authorities have effectively taken our citizens hostage. We do not know the condition of the detainees or their ability to contact the outside world," the minister added.
He also characterized the actions of the Hungarian side as "hostage-taking and robbery" and emphasized that Ukraine has already sent an official appeal demanding that the Hungarian authorities immediately release the detainees.
Oschadbank confirmed the information about the detention of its employees, stating that GPS data shows the location of the vehicles in the center of Budapest, but the whereabouts of their employees remain unknown. According to the bank, the transportation of valuables was carried out under an international agreement with the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank and complied with all necessary regulations.
According to the financial institution, significant amounts were found in the detained vehicles: 40 million dollars, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms of gold. The bank demands the immediate return of its employees and the seized property.
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary
Amid these events, relations between Ukraine and Hungary have significantly deteriorated, linked to the Druzhba oil pipeline and issues of financial aid to Ukraine from the European Union. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked the allocation of 90 billion euros in aid to Kyiv, demanding the resumption of Russian oil transit through this pipeline. Kyiv, in turn, claims that the pipeline was damaged as a result of Russian attacks and is in the process of being restored, while Budapest accuses Ukraine of deliberately blocking supplies.
The conflict escalated after a sharp statement by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who threatened to "pass the address" of Orban to the Ukrainian military if the funding blockade continued. This statement was perceived in Budapest as a threat and blackmail.
An additional factor of tension is the upcoming parliamentary elections in Hungary, where the topic of Ukraine is actively used in political debates. Experts predict that the confrontation between Kyiv and Budapest may only escalate in the coming weeks.
