Ukraine Accuses Hungary of Hostage Taking Amidst Oil Pipeline Dispute
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Ukraine has accused Hungarian authorities of detaining seven of its citizens, alleging a hostage situation linked to a growing dispute over Russian oil transit. The accusations, leveled Friday by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, escalate tensions between the two countries already strained by Hungary’s continued engagement with Moscow.
Sybiha stated the seven individuals are employees of Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank and were detained while traveling between Austria and Ukraine, carrying out routine banking transfers. According to Ukrainian officials, the group was transporting approximately $40 million in cash and nine kilograms of gold.
“Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage,” Sybiha wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added that the reasons for the detention and the well-being of those held were currently unknown. Oschadbank confirmed the detention, stating that GPS data indicated the vehicles were located near a Hungarian law enforcement agency.
The accusations come after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened to use “force” to pressure Kyiv into restoring the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Hungary. Sybiha responded sharply to Orbán’s remarks, calling the detention “state terrorism and racketeering” if linked to the pipeline dispute.
Hungary, along with Slovakia, has been demanding Ukraine repair the Druzhba pipeline, disrupted by the ongoing conflict with Russia. Kyiv has refused, arguing it should not be responsible for damage caused by Moscow.
The situation is further complicated by recent diplomatic activity. Just days prior, Hungary’s foreign minister visited Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin. Orbán subsequently warned that Budapest might “break the Ukrainian oil blockade by force.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated a potential for repairs within “a month to a month-and-a-half,” but also suggested Ukraine could limit the pipeline’s future capacity. He also alluded to a potential military response to Orbán’s threats, stating Ukrainian forces could address the prime minister “in their own language.”
This latest incident marks a significant deterioration in relations, following the discovery of a Hungarian spy network operating in Ukraine last year, which led to the expulsion of diplomats from both countries. Hungary has maintained comparatively close ties with Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a position that has drawn criticism from Kyiv and other European nations.
