Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has leveled explosive accusations against Hungarian authorities, alleging they have taken seven employees of Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank hostage under mysterious circumstances. The diplomatic confrontation erupted when Sybiha publicly declared via social media platform X that Hungarian authorities in Budapest had seized the Ukrainian citizens without justification, with their current condition and the reasons behind their detention remaining unknown.
The incident involves a high-value transport operation between Austria and Ukraine, where the bank employees were moving two vehicles containing an extraordinary cargo: approximately $80 million in various currencies and precious metals. According to official statements from Oschadbank, the detained personnel were transporting 40 million US dollars, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms of gold when intercepted by Hungarian authorities. GPS tracking data confirmed the vehicles’ location in Budapest at the time of the incident.
This dramatic development occurs against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between Ukraine and Hungary, with Budapest maintaining notably close ties with Russia throughout the ongoing conflict. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has consistently opposed military assistance to Ukraine and recently blocked a European Union aid package destined for Kyiv. Orbán has further threatened to employ ‘political and financial tools’ to pressure Ukraine into reopening the critical Druzhba pipeline, which traditionally supplied Russian oil to Hungarian refineries.
Ukraine counters that the pipeline infrastructure sustained damage from Russian military strikes last month, with repair crews suffering injuries during subsequent attacks. The Druzhba pipeline represents the primary transmission route for Russian oil to both Hungary and Slovakia, with shipments completely halted since January 27th. Hungary and Slovakia, as the only EU nations continuing Russian oil imports, have accused Ukraine of intentionally delaying the resumption of oil flows for political motives.
Sybiha’s characterization of the incident as ‘state terrorism and racketeering’ signals a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions, with Ukraine formally demanding through official channels the immediate release of both personnel and assets. The Hungarian government has not yet responded to requests for commentary regarding these serious allegations.