Hungary and Ukraine are facing fresh diplomatic tensions after Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainian citizens and seized two armored vehicles carrying large amounts of cash and gold.
Hungarian officials say the action was taken as part of a money laundering investigation, while Ukraine has strongly denied the accusation and called the incident illegal. The situation has added to an already tense relationship between the two countries, especially as disputes over energy supplies and politics continue to grow.
Hungary detains seven Ukrainian bank employees
Hungarian authorities confirmed that seven Ukrainian citizens were detained while traveling through the country. According to officials, the individuals were stopped while transporting cash in two armored vehicles across Hungary.
The vehicles were reportedly carrying large sums of money and were intercepted during a law enforcement operation. Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration said criminal proceedings have started based on suspicions of money laundering.
The authorities also seized the two armored vehicles that were being used to transport the money.
Cash, euros, and gold seized during operation
Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank later confirmed that the detained individuals were its employees. According to the bank, the armored vehicles were part of a routine cash transportation service between Austria and Ukraine.
The bank said Hungarian authorities seized a large amount of assets, including:
- 40 million US dollars
- 35 million euros
- 9 kilograms of gold
The gold alone is estimated to be worth around $1.5 million at current market prices.
Ukrainian officials say the money and valuables were being transported legally as part of normal banking operations.
Ukraine strongly condemns Hungary’s actions
Ukraine reacted sharply to the incident. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Hungary of illegally detaining the bank workers and seizing the funds.
In a statement posted on social media, Sybiha described the incident as “state terrorism and racketeering.”
He said the detained individuals were simply carrying out their duties for the state-owned bank when they were stopped by Hungarian authorities.
Ukraine has also raised concerns about the safety and whereabouts of the detained employees.
Location of vehicles known but employees missing
According to Oschadbank, GPS data showed the armored vehicles were later located in central Budapest near one of Hungary’s law enforcement agencies.
However, the bank said the location of the seven employees remains unknown.
Hungarian government ministries, including the Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry, and the Counter-Terrorism Centre, did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.
Incident deepens Hungary–Ukraine tensions
The dispute comes at a time when relations between Hungary and Ukraine are already strained.
The two countries are currently involved in a heated disagreement over oil supplies flowing through the Druzhba pipeline, which passes through Ukrainian territory and delivers Russian oil to Hungary.
Oil shipments through the pipeline have been interrupted since January 27. Ukrainian officials say the pipeline infrastructure was damaged by a Russian drone strike, making repairs dangerous for technicians.
Even if repairs are completed, Ukrainian authorities say the pipeline could remain vulnerable to further attacks.
Hungary accuses Ukraine of blocking oil supplies
Hungary has rejected Ukraine’s explanation for the disruption.
Hungarian officials claim Ukraine is deliberately blocking Russian oil shipments. The Hungarian government has warned that it may take countermeasures until the oil supply resumes.
The dispute has turned into a major political issue within Hungary.
Orbán escalates rhetoric against Ukraine
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has taken a strong stance against Ukraine during the dispute.
Orbán, who has maintained close relations with Russia, has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of trying to trigger an energy crisis in Hungary ahead of the country’s upcoming election.
Although Orbán did not directly mention the detained bank vehicles, he suggested that Hungary could block items important to Ukraine from passing through the country until oil shipments resume.
In a statement to state radio, Orbán said Ukraine would run out of money before Hungary ran out of oil.
Election politics and energy concerns
The situation is also tied to Hungary’s domestic politics. Orbán, who has been in power since 2010 and is the European Union’s longest-serving leader, is facing a tough election challenge next month.
Polls suggest he is trailing behind a center-right rival.
Orbán has made Ukraine a central issue in his campaign, warning voters that Ukraine could threaten Hungary’s energy security and economic stability.
He has also claimed that if he loses the election, the European Union might force Hungary to stop buying Russian energy.
Hungary’s stance on Russian energy
Hungary and neighboring Slovakia have taken a different position from many other European Union countries regarding Russian energy.
While the EU has pushed for reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has continued purchasing Russian oil and gas.
Orbán has previously taken several actions in response to the energy dispute, including:
- Stopping diesel shipments to Ukraine
- Blocking certain European Union sanctions against Russia
- Opposing a major financial aid package for Ukraine
He has also ordered military forces to protect key energy infrastructure sites across Hungary.
Ukraine warns citizens about travel to Hungary
Following the detention incident, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a warning to its citizens.
The ministry advised Ukrainians to avoid traveling to Hungary, saying their safety could not be guaranteed due to what it described as arbitrary actions by Hungarian authorities.
Ukrainian officials also warned businesses to consider the risks of property seizures in Hungary.
Diplomatic dispute likely to continue
The detention of the Ukrainian bank employees has quickly turned into another flashpoint between the two countries.
Hungary insists the investigation is related to suspected financial crimes, while Ukraine argues the money transfer was legal and part of normal banking operations.
With political tensions already high due to energy disputes and upcoming elections, the incident is likely to further strain relations between Budapest and Kyiv in the coming week.
