Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
International Affairs
We Represent, Protect, and Promote Ukraine and its highest value – People 🇺🇦
Mar 6, 2026
❗️ Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha: “Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens hostage. The reasons are still unknown, as well as their current well-being, or the possibility of contacting them.
These seven Ukrainians are employees of state-owned Oschadbank, who were operating two bank cars transiting between Austria and Ukraine and carrying cash as part of regular services between state banks.
In fact, we are talking about Hungary taking hostages and stealing money. If this is the “force” announced earlier today by Mr Orban, then this is a force of a criminal gang. This is state terrorism and racketeering.
We have already sent an official note demanding an immediate release of our citizens.
We will also address the European Union with the request to provide a clear qualification of Hungary’s unlawful actions, hostage-taking, and robbery.”
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💬 Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha: “We condemn Iran’s strike on Azerbaijan, which follows its reckless attacks on countries in the Middle East and Europe.
There was never any reason for Iranian terrorists to harm Azerbaijan, Ukraine by giving their drones to Russia, or other countries where they have caused chaos, murder, and destabilization.
Iran’s attack on Azerbaijan once again demonstrates that the regime in Tehran is a global threat, not a regional one. And it is not only about Iran but also its terrorist allies, including Russia.
All international efforts must be consolidated to neutralize the threats posed by the Iranian regime, provide a chance for normal life for the Iranian people, and restore security and stability in the Middle East and beyond.”
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Mar 5
Today, 200 Ukrainian families received long-awaited news: their loved ones are coming back home from Russian captivity!
Those released include defenders of Mariupol and other cities and villages in the Donetsk region as well as Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
We thank the United States for its support in making this exchange possible. We are also grateful to our defenders on the frontline who strengthen Ukraine’s exchange capacity.
Ukraine is consistently working to free every man and every woman from Russian captivity. All of them must return home.
NV reported:
Many freed Ukrainian defenders in serious condition after captivity
March 5, 2026,
The oldest Ukrainian defender released is 59 years old, the youngest is 27. (Photo: Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War / Telegram)
Ukraine repatriated 200 soldiers from Russian captivity in the first phase of a prisoner exchange agreed in Geneva, many of them in serious psychological condition with critically low body weight, Ukraine’s Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported on March 5.
The oldest freed prisoner is 59 years old, the youngest 27.
“Another interesting detail: 18 of the returned defenders have celebrated or will celebrate their birthdays in March,” Lubinets said.
This is the first stage of a large exchange, he noted.
Among the 200 defenders freed today from Russian captivity are servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including the Naval Forces and Territorial Defense Forces, National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and State Special Transport Service.
“Mostly soldiers and sergeants are returning home,” Lubinets added.
Among the freed are defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol.
“Our military defended Ukraine in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhya sectors. Among the freed are defenders captured in 2022,” the commissioner said.
This is already the second exchange in 2026.
Overall, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 6,622 citizens have been returned, Lubinets reported.
Earlier on March 5, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a prisoner exchange in the format of 200 for 200 had taken place.
On Feb. 18, the latest round of trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia concluded in Geneva, Switzerland. Zelenskyy said the negotiations were difficult, with progress only on military issues. In particular, the sides resolved questions of monitoring the ceasefire, which will take place with U.S. participation.
On Feb. 23, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov said he hoped for a new prisoner exchange with Russia already this week.
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Returning to the MFA Ukraine:
Four years ago, Russia attacked and occupied the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant – the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
Russia turned it into a military base, disrupted its normal operations, damaged infrastructure, detained plant employees, and restricted access for experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency to critical areas of the plant, making a full and objective safety assessment impossible.
Four years of illegal control pose a direct threat to global nuclear security. For the first time in history, a civilian nuclear facility of this scale is being operated not by its lawful operator, but by an aggressor state.
The only path to restoring safety is the full and immediate withdrawal of Russian military forces and personnel from the plant, its return to Ukraine’s control, the release of all unlawfully detained individuals, and increased international pressure, including sanctions against Rosatom. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was and remains a Ukrainian facility. Its return is not only a matter of Ukraine’s sovereignty, but of global security.
Comment from :
Europe spent decades building nuclear safety regimes, and Russia demonstrated that one invading army can bypass the entire system in a single afternoon.
The situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is nothing short of alarming. Four years of illegal Russian control over Europe’s largest nuclear facility have created an unprecedented risk to global nuclear security. Civilian nuclear infrastructure should never be exploited for military purposes, and the deliberate obstruction of international experts makes the plant’s safety assessment impossible. The only responsible course of action is the immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces, the full restoration of Ukraine’s control, and the release of all unlawfully detained personnel. The international community must also increase pressure through targeted sanctions against entities like Rosatom that enable this dangerous occupation. This is not just about Ukraine’s sovereignty—it is a matter of global safety. Every day that this facility remains under unlawful control, the risk of a catastrophic nuclear incident grows, threatening millions far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Immediate and decisive action is imperative.
I agree that the behaviour of Orbanistan is indeed
“state terrorism and racketeering.”
But I can’t understand the recklessness of sending high value people and contents through such a vile enemy country. Especially at a time when Zel had made a heavy-handed but understandable comment about blowing up the toad nazi.
“Iran’s attack on Azerbaijan once again demonstrates that the regime in Tehran is a global threat, not a regional one.”
Some people may be surprised to know that the Azeris; although Shias like the majority of Iranians, actually hate Iran.
And if you go there, as I have, you will find another curious fact : Azeris are pro-Israel. They have an embassy there and supply most of Israel’s gas.
I am not sure about what Ukraine’s relations with Azerbaijan are, but they need to be stepped up.
I seem to recall they sent 3 MiGs to Ukraine in 2022.
The disgusting part about Hungary’s deplorable and fascist behavior is the EU’s and NATO’s complete complacency. The trash country has nothing to fear.