Hungary claims it detained Ukrainian Oschadbank cash collectors in money laundering case

According to Ukrinform, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács reported this on the social network X, citing a statement by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó.

The statement says that the Hungarian government is demanding “immediate answers from Ukraine regarding large cash shipments passing through Hungary, raising the question of whether the money could be linked to the Ukrainian war mafia.”

“He [Szijjártó] noted that since January $900 million and €420 million in cash, as well as 146 kilograms of gold, have reportedly been transported through Hungary. If this is truly a transaction between banks, then the question arises: why is it not handled by transfer, and why does such an enormous amount of cash need to travel through Hungary?” Kovács cited the MFA statement.

According to the spokesperson, Szijjártó reportedly said that some of the escorts of these shipments have ties to Ukrainian special services.

“Until Kyiv provides clear explanations about the origin and purpose of the funds, Hungarian authorities will conduct a thorough investigation, including a money-laundering probe launched by the National Tax and Customs Administration,” the spokesperson claimed.

According to The Guardian, information about the shipment's contents was also confirmed in line with a previous statement by Oschadbank.

However, according to Hungarian media reports, the authorities emphasized that one of the seven detainees was a former general of the Ukrainian special services.

In a statement quoted by Index.hu, the authorities claim they informed the Ukrainian consular authorities of this, but did not receive a response.

As reported by Ukrinform, on the night of March 6, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven Ukrainian citizens—employees of Oschadbank—hostage and stole the money they were transporting. According to him, seven Oschadbank employees were traveling in two bank vehicles between Austria and Ukraine, transporting cash as part of regular services between state banks.

The National Bank of Ukraine demands the release of the Oschadbank cash collection team employees who are being illegally detained in Hungary.

The Hungarian side has not yet provided Ukrainian consuls with access to the seven detained Oschadbank employees.

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