US EditionHungary’s $82 million bank transit swoop deepens spat with Ukraine
Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainians and seized $82 million in cash and gold, citing money laundering suspicions amid a dispute over halted oil flows and EU aid.
- On March 5, 2026, Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration detained seven Ukrainian citizens carrying around $82 million in cash and gold in central Budapest, with a video showing armed officers during the raid.
- After Budapest blocked EU measures, the operation comes amid a dispute over delayed Druzhba pipeline oil flows and political tensions ahead of the April 12, 2026 election.
- The recordings identify Hungarian authorities showing officers pointing rifles, handcuffing occupants, and forcing them face down as vans on authorized bank business were searched, with authorizations linked to Oschadbank and Raiffeisen.
- Kyiv responded by summoning Hungary's acting chargé d'affaires, demanded the release of Oschadbank employees, advised citizens not to travel to Hungary, and said it would ask the EU to clarify Hungary’s actions, while Hungary said the detainees would be expelled.
- EU officials in Brussels said they are handling the matter behind closed doors after Ukrainian officials linked the detentions to a recent Hungarian delegation visit to Moscow.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Hungary's authorities have stopped a Ukrainian transport of money with millions and gold. Now there are first details.
Hungary temporarily detains 7 Ukrainians and seizes $80 million cash shipment, angering Kiev
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungarian authorities temporarily detained seven Ukrainian citizens and seized two armored cars carrying tens of millions of euros (dollars) in cash across Hungary on suspicion of
Hungary Expels Ukrainians as Cash Seizure Deepens Row With Kyiv
Hungary has expelled seven Ukrainian nationals after authorities intercepted an armoured cash convoy carrying tens of millions of dollars and gold across the country, intensifying an already bitter dispute between Budapest and Kyiv over energy supplies and EU financial support. Hungarian authorities said the group was detained on Thursday, March 5th, during an operation involving the country’s tax authority and the Counter-Terrorism Centre. The …
Gold Bars, $80 Million Cash, Arrests, Orban’s Election: Hungarian-Ukrainian Bad Blood Boils Over
When they were stopped in central Budapest this week, the two vans were carrying more than $80 million in cash and 9 kilograms of gold bars, along with seven Ukrainian citizens, who were en route from Austria to their home country.
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