Hungary has impounded two Ukrainian armoured bank vehicles carrying millions of euros in cash and gold bars, escalating a bitter dispute between Budapest and Kyiv. Seven Ukrainian citizens accompanying the convoy were arrested, and Hungarian authorities have launched a money-laundering investigation.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary of “taking hostages and stealing money,” and suggested the seizure was politically motivated ahead of Hungarian elections next month. He claimed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is pro-Russian, fabricated the scandal for political gain.
Hungary's tax and customs administration said the shipment contained $40 million and €35 million in cash, along with 9 kg of gold. One of those arrested was described as a former Ukrainian intelligence general. Oschadbank, Ukraine's state savings bank, said the transport was a routine trip between Austria and Ukraine, conducted by land due to air travel restrictions.
The seizure follows a dispute over gas supplies and Orbán's veto of EU sanctions on Russia and a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the veto with a threat, saying if Orbán blocked the loan, “we will give this person’s address to our armed forces.”
Hungarian analysts said Zelenskyy's comments could help Orbán in the polls by triggering a “war psychosis.” Opposition candidate Péter Magyar, who leads in surveys, condemned Zelenskyy's threat and called on the EU to cut ties with Ukraine until an apology is issued.
Hungarian officials said the seven detainees would be expelled, but the fate of the seized money and gold remains unclear. A lawyer for the detainees described the procedure as abnormal, stating he could not locate his clients.
