The footage on the Hungarian government's YouTube channel indicates that the forceful detention took place during the daytime on Thursday 5 March.

The video shows passengers from Ukrainian cash-in-transit vehicles being detained at a petrol station.

The Hungarian government also showed the cash and gold bars seized from the Ukrainian cash-in-transit vehicles.

Earlier on Friday, the Hungarian government said it planned to deport seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards who had been detained by the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary.

The National Bank of Ukraine was the first to report the seizure of Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff and a large amount of currency. The employees were from Oschadbank and were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the actions of the Hungarian authorities as "terrorism and hostage-taking", and the ministry advised Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary.

Domestic outrage is fueled by the fact that Trump’s actions were very likely a violation of the US Constitution: the president did not have Congress’s approval to initiate hostilities.

All of this is happening against the backdrop of the midterm elections to Congress, which promise to be a challenge for the American president and which have begun with the start of party primaries in several states.

Read more about how the latest operation by the US military has divided the American administration and how these events could affect the course of the midterm elections in the article by Olha Kovalchuk, a European Pravda journalist: Strike without support: How the US reacted to the war with Iran and why this is a problem for Trump. 

Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, a member of the Gang of Eight (a group of eight US lawmakers, mostly members of intelligence committees, who receive classified information about US operations and whom the Trump administration informed about the planned operation in Iran), questioned the constitutionality of the strikes on Iran.

Instead, on 2 March, already after the war had begun, the American president sent lawmakers a classified letter justifying the operation as necessary to eliminate Iran as a global threat. Notably, the letter did not mention Tehran’s nuclear programme or the need to overthrow the bloody regime of the ayatollahs.

Even now, however, American society has not received answers to the main questions.

First and foremost, it is unclear how long this war will last and what the United States aims to achieve.

As a result, polls show that only 27% of Americans approved of Trump’s actions in Iran. By comparison, more than twice as many (65%) supported the operation to abduct Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

The restrained reaction of US Vice President JD Vance, whom Trump almost certainly sees as his successor, is also telling.

Vance broke his media silence only in a short interview with Fox News on 2 March. In the statement, he supported the strikes on Iran, repeating the argument about Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons.

At the same time, Vance tried to reassure the general public (and perhaps himself) that Trump would not drag America into a "new Iraq or Afghanistan."

Experts emphasise that support for actions against Iran in Congress will depend largely on how long the operation lasts.

A prolonged war that destabilises the region and causes losses for the US military could turn the president’s allies and fellow party members against him.

Moreover, some of them have expressed concern about this, for example, MAGA Republican Markwayne Mullin.

One should not forget the human losses the United States has suffered during several days of operations in the Middle East. Six soldiers killed in the current war is too great a loss for a president who was elected on slogans of peace and "America First".

And a war in a strategically important region without clear meaning or goals, as the history of Iraq shows, leads not only to a weakening of a country’s image on the global stage but also to the loss of electoral support.

These political consequences have already begun to appear. The first American strikes on Iran took place on a Saturday, three days before the official start of the first stage of the midterm elections to Congress, the party primaries.

On Tuesday, only three states (Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas) were choosing their party candidates.

Even the preliminary results in these states turned out to be quite telling.

"I can confirm that we have received a request for a meeting from Prime Minister Fico," Gill said.

He said this in response to a question about Fico's plans to discuss the halt in oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline with Ursula von der Leyen on 10 March.

Gill added that "we're looking into the President's agenda possibilities and we should be able to confirm that meeting as soon as possible."

"I'm not going to go into the details of what they will discuss. I think it's fair to say that the list of topics I have just mentioned will feature highly on the agenda," said Gill referring to tensions around the Druzhba pipeline which stopped transporting oil.

Gill also said von der Leyen will be in Paris on 10 March to deliver a speech at the Nuclear Energy Summit.

She will travel to Strasbourg the same day to chair a meeting of the College of Commissioners.

On Wednesday 11 March, still in Strasbourg, Ursula von der Leyen will take part in a European Parliament plenary debate ahead of the European Council meeting on 19 and 20 March, as well as a debate on the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East.

Robert Fico has said he intends to coordinate his position with the European Commission on the Druzhba oil pipeline before any meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and therefore plans to meet von der Leyen on 10 March.

Fico and Zelenskyy agreed on a meeting during a phone call on 27 February. Ukraine later invited Fico to visit on 6 or 9 March.

Earlier, Fico held a press conference presenting satellite images, which he claims confirm the absence of critical damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Hungary and Slovakia continue to claim that Ukraine has stopped oil supplies via the Druzhba oil pipeline solely for political reasons, even though the disruption was caused by damage from a Russian attack in late January.

Both countries have decided to set up an investigative commission to examine the condition of the Druzhba pipeline and are demanding access to the site of the damage.

Svyrydenko said Hungary's actions towards the Ukrainians resemble Moscow's practices of the 1990s.

She said the situation would be strange were it not taking place just days after figures close to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had visited the Kremlin.

She said the Ukrainian government is demanding the immediate release of the Ukrainian citizens.

"The Ukrainian government is demanding an immediate release of our citizens. We will take appropriate action to hold those responsible for their detention accountable," Svyrydenko wrote on X.

Svyrydenko also called on international partners to respond strongly to the incident.

"Such arbitrary detentions demand clear international condemnation," she added.

The National Bank of Ukraine reported on the night of 5-6 March that the Hungarian authorities had seized seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards and a large amount of currency.

It later emerged that the cash-in-transit vehicles seized by Hungarian law enforcement officers have been hidden at Hungary's Counterterrorism Centre. It is worth noting that this agency has previously taken part in anti-Ukrainian provocations organised by Orbán's regime. The whereabouts of the bank employees remain unknown.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported that Hungary has still not granted Ukrainian consuls access to the seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards.

Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration reported the seizure of cash-in-transit vehicles and bank employees from Ukraine, stating that the detention was carried out "on suspicion of money laundering".

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó arrived in Moscow on 4 March to ensure that the oil and gas needed for Hungary's energy supply will remain available during the crisis.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised the leaders of Hungary and Slovakia for communicating with Ukraine in a purely pragmatic manner about problems with the Druzhba oil pipeline after Russian strikes, while refusing to acknowledge the cost of the transit and repairs borne by Ukraine. Péter Szijjártó said that the lack of oil transportation via the Druzhba pipeline is an attack on Hungary carried out by Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Officers from the International Police Co-operation 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 aimed at establishing all the facts related to the incident. Investigative actions are ongoing," Ukraine's National Police wrote on Facebook.

The abduction was recorded in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unlawful deprivation of liberty or kidnapping) and Article 147 (hostage taking).

On Friday 6 March, the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary reported the seizure of the cash-in-transit vehicles and the detention of bank employees from Ukraine, saying the operation was carried out in cooperation with TEK "on suspicion of money laundering".

It was claimed that among those detained was a former general of a Ukrainian security service who was overseeing a shipment consisting of US$40 million, €35 million and 9 kilograms of gold.

The National Bank of Ukraine was the first to report that Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff and a large amount of currency had been seized. The employees were from Oschadbank and were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described these actions as "terrorism and hostage-taking", and the ministry advised Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary.

Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration reported the seizure of cash-in-transit vehicles and bank employees from Ukraine, stating that the detention was carried out "on suspicion of money laundering".

Hungarian authorities said they plan to expel seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit workers who were earlier detained by officers of Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration.

The minister stressed that all those responsible for the seizure and detention of Ukrainian citizens would be held accountable.

"We reserve the right to take appropriate action, including initiating sanctions and other restrictive measures," Sybiha noted on X.

He also reiterated Ukraine's demand that Hungary stop dragging Ukraine into its domestic politics and election campaign.

Sybiha expressed hope for a decisive 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," he wrote.

Sybiha also explained that the morning statements and demands made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán towards Ukraine were also related to the Ukrainian cash-in-transit workers and their cargo seized by Hungary.

Earlier on Friday, the Hungarian government said it planned to deport seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards who had been detained by the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary.

The National Bank of Ukraine was the first to report the seizure of Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff and a large amount of currency. The employees were from Oschadbank and were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine.

Sybiha described the actions of the Hungarian authorities as "terrorism and hostage-taking", and the ministry advised Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary.

NBU's deputy governor Oleksii Shaban is also travelling to Budapest.

"Meanwhile, we are also working on appeals to our partners and regulators on this issue, including compliance with CIT control procedures in the eurozone and the relevant actions of the Hungarian side," Andrii Pyshnyi, Governor of Ukraine's National Bank, wrote on Facebook.

Pyshnyi also demanded official information from the Hungarian authorities on the reasons for the detention of Oschadbank staff.

On 2 March, Orbán claimed that satellite images prove there are no obstacles to the pipeline's operation.

Commenting on this, Zelenskyy said satellite images cannot reveal every detail. He also criticised Orbán and Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico for their selfishness over the Druzhba pipeline situation.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said he hopes that "a certain person" in the EU (an allusion to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán) will stop blocking a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine, otherwise he might give that person's contact details to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Viktor Orbán has posted videos on social media in which he threatens to use force to make Ukraine resume the transit of oil via the Druzhba pipeline.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on the night of 5-6 March that Hungarian authorities in Budapest had taken seven Ukrainian employees of the state-owned Oschadbank hostage and seized money and valuables.

Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács said that Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration established the identities of seven Ukrainian citizens detained in connection with transporting large amounts of cash and gold through Hungary.

"Authorities found the operation was supervised by a former general of the Ukrainian Security Service, with a former major of the Ukrainian Air Force acting as deputy and assisted by individuals with military experience. Based on these findings, all seven individuals will be expelled from Hungary," Kovács wrote on X.

On Friday 6 March, the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary reported the seizure of the cash-in-transit vehicles and the detention of bank employees from Ukraine, saying the operation was carried out in cooperation with TEK "on suspicion of money laundering".

It was claimed that among those detained was a former general of a Ukrainian security service who was overseeing a shipment consisting of US$40 million, €35 million and 9 kilograms of gold.

The National Bank of Ukraine was the first to report that Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff and a large amount of currency had been seized. The employees were from Oschadbank and were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the Hungarian authorities' actions as "hostage-taking and state terrorism", and the ministry advised Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary.

According to Telex sources, on Thursday 5 March, the Counterterrorism Centre carried out a raid on vehicles with Ukrainian licence plates transporting cash at a petrol station on the M5 motorway.

Security officers pulled people dressed in black from the vehicles and forced them to the ground. Several eyewitnesses observed the raid.

After the operation ended, a convoy of vehicles belonging to the Counterterrorism Centre headed towards Budapest.

Media outlets that had information about the raid sent inquiries to the police and the Counterterrorism Centre but did not receive a response.

On Friday 6 March, the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary reported the seizure of the cash-in-transit vehicles and the detention of bank employees from Ukraine, saying the operation was carried out in cooperation with TEK "on suspicion of money laundering".

It was claimed that among those detained was a former general of a Ukrainian security service who was overseeing a shipment consisting of US$40 million, €35 million and 9 kilograms of gold.

The National Bank of Ukraine was the first to report that Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff and a large amount of currency had been seized. The employees were from Oschadbank and were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine.

It later emerged that the seized vehicles had been taken to the headquarters of the Counterterrorism Centre of Hungary. The structure has previously been involved in anti-Ukrainian provocations linked to the government of Viktor Orbán. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the bank employees remain unknown.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described these actions as "terrorism and hostage-taking", and the ministry advised Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary.

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said it is currently impossible to guarantee the safety of Ukrainians in Hungary amid the "arbitrary actions of the Hungarian authorities" and therefore urged people to refrain from travelling to the country.

"If possible, we also ask you to prioritise other transit routes, not via Hungarian territory," the foreign ministry noted.

In addition, Ukraine's foreign ministry drew the attention of European and Ukrainian businesses to "the risks of arbitrary abduction of property on Hungary's territory" and therefore recommended "taking these risks into account in the context of any business activity in this country".

As reported, the National Bank of Ukraine said on the night of 5-6 March that Hungary's authorities had seized Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards and a large amount of currency.

It later became known that the cash-in-transit vehicles abducted by Hungarian law enforcement officers were hidden at Hungary's Counterterrorism Centre. It is worth noting that this body had previously taken part in anti-Ukrainian provocations by Orbán's regime. At the same time, the whereabouts of the bank employees remain unknown.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that the actions of the Hungarian authorities amounted to hostage-taking and state terrorism.

He also reported that Hungary has still not granted Ukrainian consuls access to the seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit guards.