Ukraine secures release of cash collectors taken hostage by Hungary
Photo: Andrii Sybiha, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Ukraine has successfully secured the release of cash collectors who were illegally detained by Hungarian authorities, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Twitter (X).
According to the Foreign Minister, he has already reported to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the release of seven citizens.
"They are already safe and they have crossed the Ukrainian border. Our consuls have provided necessary assistance," Sybiha added.
He thanked the team at the Foreign Ministry and the Ukrainian embassy in Hungary, as well as Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, government institutions, state banks, and everyone who helped secure the release of the detained Ukrainians.
I have already briefed President @ZelenskyyUa that we were able to secure the release of seven Ukrainian nationals who were held in Budapest.
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) March 6, 2026
They are already safe and they have crossed the Ukrainian border. Our consuls have provided necessary assistance.
I thank our team at… pic.twitter.com/74zA9Yin8v
Scandal over the detention of Ukrainians
Earlier today, March 6, it became known that Hungary detained two cash-in-transit vehicles of Oschadbank, which were transporting $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kg of gold from Austria. Hungarian authorities confiscated the assets, and the cash collectors were detained.
This sparked a scandal between Kyiv and Budapest. Ukrainian officials directly called it "state banditry" and the taking of hostages by Hungary.
The Hungarian side claimed that the Ukrainians had allegedly been deported, but there has been no confirmation of this.
Meanwhile, the fate of Ukraine’s state property seized by Hungary remains unknown. Budapest asserts that the detention was linked to alleged money laundering.
Notably, this incident occurred just a month before Hungary’s parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling party is reportedly using manipulations regarding Ukraine as part of its election campaign.
