Arrest of Ukrainian Citizens in Hungary
On March 6, 2026, an event occurred in Budapest that raised concerns in Ukraine. Hungary detained seven citizens of Ukraine who were working as cashiers for the state Savings Bank. According to reports, the grounds for the detention were suspicions of money laundering. The detention was carried out by the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary, and Ukrainian consuls were not allowed access to those detained.
Among the detainees were:
- Olexandr Kucheryany
- Petrokachalov
- Hennadiy Kuznetsov
- Serhiy Sydorenko
- Valeriy Kanasevich
- Serhiy Malko
- Oleh Chabayuyk
They were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine when they were detained. After some time, the Ukrainian side managed to secure their release, and the detainees returned to Ukraine.
Andriy Sybiha, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, announced: 'I have already informed President Zelensky that we managed to secure the release of seven citizens of Ukraine who were held in Budapest. They are already safe and have crossed the Ukrainian border. Our consuls provided the necessary assistance.'
As a result of this incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine recommended that citizens refrain from traveling to Hungary, considering the detention as a possible provocation. The situation caused outrage in society as the detainees were employees of a state bank, and their actions raised questions regarding the legitimacy of the detention.
Impact on Relations between Ukraine and Hungary
This case highlights the tension in relations between Ukraine and Hungary and raises questions about the safety of Ukrainian citizens abroad. The detention of Ukrainian citizens in a neighboring country could negatively affect the trust between the states, which in turn could complicate cooperation in other areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine continues to monitor the situation and is ready to respond to potential threats to its citizens.