MFA recommends that Ukrainian citizens refrain from traveling to Hungary due to impossibility of guaranteeing their safety amid arbitrary actions of Hungarian authorities

Following the kidnapping of seven Ukrainian citizens and the theft of property from a state-owned bank in Budapest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that Ukrainian citizens refrain from traveling to Hungary due to the impossibility of guaranteeing their safety given the arbitrary actions of the Hungarian authorities.

"If possible, we also ask that you choose transit routes other than through Hungarian territory," the Foreign Ministry said on its website.

The ministry also draws the attention of Ukrainian and European businesses to the threat of arbitrary theft of property in Hungary and recommends considering these risks in the context of any business activity in the country.

As reported, two cash-in-transit vehicles belonging to the state-owned Oschadbank were seized in Hungary. They were transporting cash and precious metals between Raiffeisen Bank (Austria) and Oschadbank (Ukraine) as part of a regular service between the state-owned banks. According to Oschadbank, the vehicles were carrying $40 million, EUR 35 million, and 9 kg of gold.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Hungarian authorities actually took seven Oschadbank employees hostage while driving cash-in-transit vehicles and stole the money. He stated that the reasons for the detention, as well as the whereabouts of the Ukrainians, are unknown. Ukraine has sent an official note to Hungary demanding the immediate release of the citizens and plans to appeal to the European Union for a legal assessment of Budapest’s actions.

The National Bank of Ukraine confirmed reports that Hungarian authorities have detained cash-in-transit vehicles and seven bank employees. According to sources at Interfax-Ukraine, the vehicles are located in the restricted area of ​​the Anti-Terrorism Center in Budapest, while the employees’ whereabouts are still unknown.

The Hungarian publication Index later reported that the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) confirmed the detention of seven Ukrainian citizens who were detained by Hungarian authorities on the night of March 6. They are suspected “of money laundering.”

As of the morning of March 6, Ukrainian consuls have not been granted access to Ukrainian citizens—Oshchadbank cash collection team employees—who were taken hostage in Budapest, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated.