Ukraine has accused Hungary of taking seven employees of a state-owned bank hostage in Budapest.
The dispute is the latest clash between the two European neighbours, after Hungary blocked a €90 billion ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of disrupting deliveries of Russian oil.
Writing on X, Sybiha said: “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.”
The Hungarian government has yet to comment on the accusations.
Oschadbank, Ukraine’s state savings bank, said the employees were carrying $40 million, €35 million and 9kg of gold. GPS data showed the cars near a Hungarian secret services building in Budapest on Friday (6 March), the bank said.
“Oschadbank demands the immediate release of its employees and property and their return to Ukraine,” it added.
The scheduled trip between Austria and Ukraine was “part of regular services between state banks”, Sybiha said. He added that Kyiv had demanded Hungary immediately release the Ukrainian citizens.
“This is state terrorism and racketeering,” he said.
In February, Hungary vetoed a €90 billion EU loan to Kyiv intended to support its 2026–2027 budget and military needs, until oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline resumed.
Hungary is one of only two EU countries still importing Russian oil, along with Slovakia. The Druzhba pipeline is the main route for delivering Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
Deliveries stopped after a 27 January airstrike by Moscow, according to Ukraine. Budapest has blamed Kyiv for failing to restore transit promptly. Ukraine denies the accusation.
Budapest and Bratislava suspended diesel fuel deliveries to Ukraine in February over the pipeline dispute. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said shipments would remain blocked until oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline resumed.
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