Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has leveled serious accusations against Hungary, claiming the country detained seven workers from Ukraine’s state savings bank who were carrying cash back from Austria on Friday.
The allegations emerged on social media platform X shortly after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to use “political and financial tools” to pressure Ukraine into reopening the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungarian refineries.
According to Sybiha, the bank workers were traveling in two vehicles through Hungarian territory when authorities stopped them. The foreign minister said their current location remains unclear.
Sybiha made explosive claims about the detention, stating: “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.”
The incident highlights growing tensions between the two neighboring countries over energy infrastructure and Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia.
