- The detained Ukrainians are bank employees who transported cash between Austria and Ukraine.
- Ukraine’s state bank said it transported tens of millions of dollars, euros and gold.
- Kyiv sent a diplomatic note to Hungary, demanding the immediate release of detained bank employees.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha accused the Hungarian authorities of holding seven employees of the Ukrainian state bank Oščadbank “hostage” in Budapest, who were transporting cash from Austria back to Ukraine. According to him, Kyiv, through an official note, called on Budapest to release them immediately. It is planned to defend itself against the European Union. The Hungarian side did not immediately comment on this. This was reported by the AFP agency, writes TASR.
“Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage today in Budapest. The reasons are still unknown, as well as their current state of health or the possibility of contacting them,” Sybiha wrote on Thursday before midnight on the X network. According to him, they are employees of the Ukrainian Oščadbank, who were transporting cash and valuables in two vehicles between Austria and Ukraine as part of a regular service between state banks.
The management of Oščadbank specified in its statement that its staff transported 40 million dollars and 35 million euros in cash and nine kilograms of gold based on an agreement with the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank and in accordance with international rules and valid procedures. According to her, the detention of vehicles and employees was without reason, she considers it a kidnapping.
“In reality, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money. If this is the ‘force’ announced today by Mr. (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor) Orbán, then it is the force of a criminal gang. It is state terrorism and blackmail,” Sybiha continued to claim.
According to GPS, the vehicles are currently located in Budapest near “one of the Hungarian security or law enforcement institutions”. Oščadbank stated that their location was also confirmed by the Ukrainian embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the place of residence of Ukrainian citizens is not known.
Earlier, according to the Reuters agency, Orbán said that Hungary would force Ukraine to restore oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline by “political and financial means”.
