Headlines
Kyiv secures release of Ukrainian nationals detained in budapest
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 6, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 6, 2026
Quick Summary
Ukraine secured the release of seven Ukrainian Oschadbank employees detained in Budapest along with cash, euros and gold during a cross-border transit, following diplomatic protests and threats of sanctions.
Kyiv Confirms Safe Return of Ukrainians Detained in Budapest
Ukrainian Nationals Released from Detention in Hungary
Official Statement from Ukraine's Foreign Minister
March 6 (Reuters) - Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Friday that Kyiv had secured the release of seven Ukrainian nationals who were held in Budapest.
Sybiha said in an X post that the released Ukrainian nationals were safe and had crossed the Ukrainian border.
Diplomatic Actions Taken by Ukraine
Earlier on Friday Ukraine's foreign ministry summoned Hungary's acting chargé d'affaires in Kyiv over the detention of the Ukrainian nationals in Budapest.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru, Editing by William Maclean)
Key Takeaways
- •Seven Ukrainian nationals employed by Oschadbank—traveling in two armored cash-in-transit vehicles carrying about $40 million, €35 million and 9 kg of gold—were detained by Hungarian authorities in Budapest on suspicion of money laundering and later expelled. (apnews.com)
- •Kyiv condemned the detentions as politically motivated “hostage‑taking,” summoned Hungary’s chargé d’affaires, convened diplomatic corps, warned of potential sanctions, and reported the detainees had safely crossed back into Ukraine. (apnews.com)
- •The incident sharpens existing tensions amid a broader diplomatic rift over energy disputes—particularly Hungary’s blocking of EU sanctions and loans for Ukraine—and comes ahead of Hungary’s April 12 general election, where the issue is seen as part of Prime Minister Orbán’s campaign strategy. (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Kyiv secures release of Ukrainian nationals detained in Budapest
1Who announced the release of the Ukrainian nationals in Budapest?
Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha announced the release.
2How many Ukrainian nationals were released from detention in Budapest?
Seven Ukrainian nationals were released.
3Where are the released Ukrainian nationals now?
The released Ukrainian nationals have crossed into Ukraine and are safe.
4How did Ukraine respond to the detention of its citizens in Budapest?
Ukraine's foreign ministry summoned Hungary's acting chargé d'affaires in Kyiv.
5When did the release of the Ukrainian nationals occur?
The release took place on Friday, March 6.
