Ukraine recommends refraining from traveling to Hungary
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends refraining from traveling to Hungary amid the detention of seven Ukrainian citizens by local security forces.
Illustrative image. An officer of the Hungarian Counter Terrorism Centre. Photo: HVGOn the night of March 6, 2026, seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit collectors had been reported missing. They were transporting over two billion hryvnias from Austria to Ukraine under an agreement between Raiffeisen and Oschadbank.
Ukrainian bankers used GPS tracking to determine that the vehicles are located in central Budapest, “near one of the security agencies.” It later emerged that the location in question is the local Counter Terrorism Centre, which Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had visited earlier. The latter is known, in part, due to photos published by the Hungarian government.
The Ukrainian government considers the detention to be “arbitrary actions” and has reached out not only to Ukrainians but also to European partners.
“We recommend taking these risks into account in the context of any business activity in this country,” diplomats advise.
Hungarian authorities maintain that the seven Ukrainians were detained as part of an investigation into alleged money laundering. The case is being handled by the local Tax and Customs Administration, which, just three days before the detention, published wanted notices for four Ukrainian men allegedly involved in operating an illegal cigarette factory.
Hungarian security forces claim that among the seven detainees is a former general of a Ukrainian special service, though they have not specified his identity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that Ukrainian consuls still do not have access to the detainees.
Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration reported the seizure of cash-in-transit vehicles and the detention of bank employees from Ukraine, stating that the detention was carried out “on suspicion of money laundering”.
This escalation in relations between Ukraine and Hungary is taking place amid the Hungarian government’s preparations for parliamentary elections. Media outlets have already established that Russian experts may be involved in the campaign.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko stated on X that the detention of seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards in Hungary occurred shortly after Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó visited Moscow and may be linked to contacts between Hungarian authorities and the Kremlin.
She said the Ukrainian government is demanding the immediate release of the Ukrainian citizens.
“The Ukrainian government is demanding the immediate release of our citizens. We will take appropriate action to hold those responsible for their detention accountable.”
Svyrydenko also called on international partners to respond strongly to the incident.
“Such arbitrary detentions demand clear international condemnation.”
News regarding the detention of the cash collectors is already being actively spread by Russian propagandists, such as Anatoliy Shariy.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned on X that Ukraine reserves the right to take retaliatory measures after Hungary detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit vehicles carrying cash and gold, along with bank employees.
The minister stressed that all those responsible for the seizure and detention of Ukrainian citizens would face accountability.
He also reiterated Ukraine’s demand that Hungary stop dragging Ukraine into its domestic politics and election campaigns.
Sybiha expressed hope for a strong reaction from international partners.
“We will also gather the foreign diplomatic corps at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to brief them on Hungary’s unacceptable actions, refute absurd accusations, and urge support in demanding accountability,” Sybiha said.
Vsquare, citing European national security sources, reported that Russia has sent a team of political strategists to Budapest to help Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government secure another election victory.
According to the publication, the delegation is led by Sergey Kiriyenko, the former head of the state nuclear corporation Rosatom and current First Deputy Chief of Staff of Vladimir Putin’s administration. In September 2025, he managed “troll farms” and voter bribery networks during Moldova’s elections, aiming to prevent the victory of pro-European candidate Maia Sandu.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s National Police have opened criminal proceedings into the abduction of seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards and an Oschadbank service vehicle in Hungary.
“Officers from the International Police Cooperation Department of the National Police of Ukraine have officially contacted Europol, Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration, and the police through official channels, and are coordinating actions to establish all the facts related to the incident. Investigative actions are ongoing”, the statement reads.
Authorities recorded the abduction in the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unlawful deprivation of liberty or kidnapping) and Article 147 (hostage taking).
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has recommended that banks engaged in the cross-border transport of valuables adjust their routes and exclude transit through risk countries.
According to NBU head Andriy Pyshnyy, the National Bank’s position is clear: the regulator fully supports Oschadbank’s actions to protect its employees and recover currency valuables.
