According to Sibiga, Hungarian authorities are effectively holding seven citizens of Ukraine who are employees of "Oschadbank." They were managing two bank vehicles that were in transit between Austria and Ukraine, transporting cash as part of regular servicing between state institutions. "In Budapest, Hungarian authorities have effectively taken seven of our citizens hostage. The reasons for their detention remain unknown, as do the condition of the detainees and the possibility of communication with them," the minister emphasized. He also noted that the actions of the Hungarian side could be classified as "robbery and hostage-taking," adding that Ukraine has already sent an official request demanding the immediate release of the detainees. Information about the detention of the employees was also confirmed by "Oschadbank." The bank reported that GPS signals indicate that the vehicles are located in the center of Budapest, near one of the law enforcement agencies, but the whereabouts of the employees have not yet been established. "Oschadbank" clarified that the transportation of valuables was carried out in accordance with an international agreement with the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank and complied with international regulations and European customs norms. According to the bank's data, the vehicles contained 40 million dollars, 35 million euros, and 9 kilograms of gold. The bank demands the immediate release of its employees and the return of the confiscated valuables.State of Ukrainian-Hungarian Relations
Relations between Ukraine and Hungary have significantly deteriorated due to the situation surrounding the Druzhba oil pipeline and the loan that the European Union intended to allocate to Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked the allocation of 90 billion euros in aid to Kyiv, insisting on the resumption of Russian oil transit through the pipeline. Ukraine claims that the pipeline was damaged as a result of a strike by Russian troops and is currently in the process of being restored, while Budapest accuses Kyiv of deliberately blocking supplies. The conflict escalated after statements by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who threatened to "hand over the address" of Orban to the Ukrainian military if Hungary does not stop blocking funding. This provoked accusations of blackmail from the Hungarian side. An additional reason for the tension is the upcoming election campaign in Hungary, where the issue of Ukraine is actively used for political purposes. Analysts predict that the confrontation between Kyiv and Budapest may only intensify in the near future.
