The Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration has identified seven Ukrainian citizens who were detained in Budapest. This was reported by the spokesperson for the Hungarian government, Zoltan Kovacs, noting that the operation involving the transportation of a large sum of cash and valuables was led by a former general of the Security Service of Ukraine, while a former Air Force major assisted the other detainees with military experience.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Official Reaction from Ukraine and Escalation of Diplomatic Tension
According to Hungarian officials, all seven Ukrainian citizens will be deported from the country. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga emphasized that Kyiv reserves the right to initiate sanctions against individuals involved in the detention of Ukrainians in Hungary. He described the actions of the Hungarian side as part of a form of blackmail and an element of Budapest’s electoral campaign. In particular, Sybiga noted that such steps are taken after demands are made to Ukraine by the Hungarian leadership.
“This is typically how it happens after people are taken hostage: demands are made. We will not tolerate this state banditry. All those responsible for the capture and detention of our citizens as hostages will be held accountable. We reserve the right to take appropriate measures, including the imposition of sanctions and other restrictive measures.”
The minister urged the Hungarian authorities to stop involving Ukraine in their internal politics and electoral process, and expressed hope for support from international partners. He added that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry plans to hold a meeting with foreign diplomats to inform them about the situation, refute Budapest’s accusations, and seek support in holding those responsible accountable.
Details of the Detention and the Position of the Ukrainian Government
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko compared the actions of the Hungarian authorities to the practices of “Moscow in the 1990s,” stressing that the incident of detention occurred shortly after a visit by representatives of the Hungarian leadership to the Kremlin. She stated that the Ukrainian government will take all necessary measures to hold those responsible accountable and called on partners for a decisive international response, emphasizing that such actions require condemnation.
According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the detainees are employees of the state-owned “Oschadbank,” who were conducting a route with two armored vehicles between Austria and Ukraine. The financial institution reported that the detention occurred during a regular transportation of currency and banking metals between “Raiffeisen Bank Austria” and “Oschadbank Ukraine.” The vehicles contained valuables worth 40 million dollars, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms of gold.
The Hungarian side, for its part, explained the detention as necessary to clarify the circumstances surrounding the transportation of a significant amount of cash through the country’s territory. Meanwhile, the day before, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the suspension of transit supplies to Ukraine until the resumption of oil supplies through the “Druzhba” pipeline.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended that citizens refrain from traveling to Hungary or transiting through the country due to the escalation of the situation. The day before, “Oschadbank” stated that the actions of the Hungarian authorities regarding the detention of employees and valuables were unfounded.
The situation is unfolding against the backdrop of sharp criticism from the Hungarian government regarding statements made by the President of Ukraine, who the day before mentioned the possibility of passing the address of an EU official blocking aid to Ukraine to Ukrainian military personnel, without naming specific names.