US Edition
Hungary temporarily detains 7 Ukrainians and seizes $80 million cash shipment, angering Kyiv
Hungary suspects money laundering involving $80 million in cash and gold carried by seven Ukrainian bank workers amid escalating Budapest-Kyiv political tensions.
- On March 5, 2026, Hungarian Counter-Terrorism Centre officers stopped two armoured cash-in-transit vehicles at an M5 motorway petrol station, detaining seven Ukrainian employees of Oschadbank and seizing roughly $80 million.
- Ahead of the April 12 election, Budapest links the Druzhba pipeline dispute to Ukraine's slow repairs and has blocked a 90 billion euro EU loan for Kyiv, using the pipeline as leverage.
- Oschadbank said the convoy was a routine interbank transfer from Raiffeisen Bank in Austria carrying $40 million, �35 million and 9 kilograms of gold, with one detainee a former Ukrainian security‑service general.
- Andrii Sybiha warned 'We reserve the right to take appropriate action, including initiating sanctions and other restrictive measures', while the Ukrainian government demanded immediate release and sent a diplomatic note to the European Union.
- With an April 12 election looming, Viktor Orbán has linked the dispute to Ukraine, escalating tensions as EU diplomats try to diffuse the conflict and Hungary deploys military to energy sites.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Ukrainian state-owned Oscsadbank is taking legal action to recover bank assets still held in Hungary after its employees and armored vehicles were recently seized. According to a statement posted on Facebook on March 7, although the seven employees detained by Hungarian authorities have returned home, “the vehicles and valuables are still unlawfully detained.” The bank mentions two legal options: appealing the restrictive measures imposed by Hun…
It was like something out of a bad spy movie. When seven Ukrainians were transporting $40 million, €35 million (1.7 billion CZK) and nine kilos of gold in two armored cars, they were detained by Hungarian customs officers. They were suspected of money laundering, but it was supposed to be a legal transaction, transporting money from the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank to the Ukrainian savings bank Oschadbank.
The leadership of the European Union is silent when Hungary stops a transport of 80 million euros in cash and gold to Ukraine. Only its most uncontrollable followers, such as Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, romp and call Viktor Orbán a criminal. In doing so, every European taxpayer finances these deliveries and the latter rightly wonders why in times of immediate transfer and co. billions flow in cash and gold bars into Ukraine. By Chris Veber On…
Hungary Seizes Millions In Cash And Gold From Ukrainian Convoy, Seven Detained
Hungary has seized millions of euros in cash and gold from a Ukrainian convoy and detained seven Ukrainians, triggering a diplomatic dispute as Kyiv denies wrongdoing and accuses Budapest of political motives.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
