Ukraine accuses Hungary of taking seven bank workers hostage in Budapest
Their bank said they were in two vans carrying $80m (£60m) worth of cash between Austria and Ukraine.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage. The reasons are still unknown, as well as their current well-being."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"Oschadbank demands the immediate release of its employees and property and their return to Ukraine."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"We are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for blocking a European aid package for Kyiv."
— Volodymyr Zelensky , Politician
"Orban has accused Kyiv of imposing an 'oil blockade' on Hungary by deliberately delaying the reopening of the Druzhba pipeline."
— Viktor Orban , Politician
"In Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"In fact, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"I could send Ukrainian soldiers and 'let them speak to him in their own language.'"
— Viktor Orbán , Politician
"Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage. The reasons are still unknown, as well as their current well-being, or the possibility of contacting them."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"In fact, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money. If this is the 'force' announced earlier today by Mr Orban, then this is a force of a criminal gang. This is state terrorism and racketeering."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"This is state terrorism and racketeering."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"In fact, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"We are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"If this is the 'force' announced earlier today by Mr. Orban, then this is the force of a criminal gang."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"This is state terrorism and racketeering."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"Hungary will 'demand answers from Ukraine’s leadership' over 'who stands behind this money and what is it meant to finance.'"
— Balázs Orbán , Politician
"'What makes this even more alarming is that since January more than $900m, €420m and 146 kg of gold have reportedly been transported through Hungary toward Ukraine.'"
— Balázs Orbán , Politician
"'NO TO WAR. No to the unilateral violation of international law.'"
— Pedro Sánchez , Politician
"In fact, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"We will not tolerate this state banditism."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"Hungary groundlessly questions the source of the state bank’s funds, transported in accordance with international agreements and supported by all necessary documentation."
— Yurii Katsion , Executive
"The Ukrainians will run out of money sooner than we will run out of oil."
— Viktor Orbán , Politician
"This is something that will not happen in Hungary. There will be no pro-Ukraine government, and Hungary will not have a pro-Ukraine prime minister."
— Péter Szijjártó , Politician
"The Ukrainian government is demanding an immediate release of our citizens."
— Yulia Svyrydenko , Politician
"We’re appealing to international partners and regulators."
— Andriy Pyshnyy , Executive
"Based on these findings, all seven individuals will be expelled from Hungary."
— Zoltán Kovács , Politician
"The Ukrainian president has threatened prime minister Viktor Orbán."
— Péter Magyar , Politician
"To get electoral support simultaneously from Maga and GRU is no mean feat."
— Radosław Sikorski , Politician
"We demand their immediate release and prepare next actions, including at the EU level."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"the workers were safe and across the Ukrainian border."
— Andriy Sybiha , Politician
"transit shipments important to Ukraine would be halted until a row over Russian oil supplies was sorted out."
— Viktor Orbán , Politician
"I would not restore it. This is my position. I expressed it to European leaders... because this is Russian oil."
— Volodymyr Zelensky , Politician
"We will not tolerate this state banditism."
— Andrii Sybiha , Politician
"Hungary groundlessly questions the source of the state bank’s funds, transported in accordance with international agreements and supported by all necessary documentation."
— Yurii Katsion , Executive
"The Ukrainians will run out of money sooner than we will run out of oil."
— Viktor Orbán , Politician
Key People
Andrii Sybiha is Ukraine's Foreign Minister.
Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine.
He is the Foreign Minister of Ukraine.
Balázs Orbán is the former political director of Viktor Orbán.
He is the Prime Minister of Spain.
Péter Magyar is the newly elected prime minister of Hungary.
Peter Szijjarto is the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Economic Relations.
Péter Szijjártó is the Hungarian Foreign Minister.
Radek Sikorski is the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland.
Radosław Sikorski is the Foreign Minister of Poland.
Ukraine's Ambassador to Hungary.
Prime Minister of Hungary.
Viktor Orbán is the Prime Minister of Hungary, noted for his controversial political policies and influence in Central Europe.
Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia.
President of Ukraine who attended a summit in Yerevan.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the President of Ukraine, known for his efforts to secure international support amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian prime minister.
Chairman of the board of Oschadbank, a state-owned bank in Ukraine.
Spokesman for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Zoltán Kovács is a spokesperson for the Hungarian government.
Tags
All Coverage
Their bank said they were in two vans carrying $80m (£60m) worth of cash between Austria and Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary of detaining seven employees of Oschadbank along with a large amount of cash and gold, escalating tensions between the two countries.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary of detaining seven employees of Ukraine's state savings bank while they were transporting cash from Austria back to Ukraine.
Hungary's tax authority confirmed the detention of seven individuals and two cash-in-transit vehicles from Austria to Ukraine, pursuing criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering. Ukraine demands their immediate release and access to consular services.
Ukraine's foreign minister accused Hungarian authorities of taking seven Ukrainian employees of a state-owned bank hostage and illegally seizing a cash shipment traveling across Hungary. The incident further inflames tensions between the two countries over oil shipments.
Hungary detained seven Ukrainians carrying around $82 million in cash and gold on suspicion of money laundering, as Kyiv accused Budapest of taking bank employees hostage amid a dispute over oil shipments.
Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainian citizens and seized two armored vehicles carrying $80 million in cash and gold, citing suspicions of money laundering. Ukraine condemned the act as 'state banditism' and demanded the immediate release of its citizens and property.
Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainian employees of a state-owned bank and seized two armored vehicles carrying large amounts of cash and gold, leading to a sharp dispute with Kyiv. Ukraine condemned the act as 'state banditism' and demanded the immediate release of its citizens and property.
Hungary's Viktor Orbán seeks to drum up votes by downplaying Ukraine, as tensions escalate over the detention of seven Ukrainian bank employees and seizure of funds, with Orbán accusing Ukraine of threatening Hungary and considering stopping shipments through its territory.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accuses Hungary of taking 'hostage' bank staff carrying $40 million.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accuses Hungarian authorities of taking seven employees of Oschadbank hostage.
Ukraine accuses Hungary of detaining seven bank employees and seizing $80 million from armored cars.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary of taking 'hostage' a group of Ukrainian bank employees transporting $40 million and nine kilograms of gold.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary of detaining seven employees of Oschadbank while they were transporting cash and valuables between Austria and Ukraine.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere in Hungary’s upcoming elections, alleging coordination with the EU and opposition to disrupt Russian oil shipments, amid rising tensions over the detention of Ukrainian bank employees and seizure of funds.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungarian authorities of detaining seven employees of Oschadbank and seizing money and valuables.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accuses Hungarian authorities of taking seven employees of Ukraine's state savings bank, Oschadbank, hostage.
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