Seven Ukrainian bank employees disappeared in Budapest. Their vehicles with $40 million and gold were stopped by Hungarian police — and no one has been in contact since. Kyiv calls it state terrorism.
On March 5, 2026, two armored vehicles of the Ukrainian state Oschadbank entered Hungary as part of a regular route from Austria to Ukraine. Inside were seven bank employees, $40 million in cash, and nine kilograms of banking metals. They did not return home.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, both cash-in-transit vehicles were stopped by Hungarian law enforcement on the territory of the country. Communication with the crews was lost. GPS trackers recorded the vehicles' location in the center of Budapest — near one of the buildings of Hungary's security forces.
The cargo was transported under an international contract between Raiffeisen Bank International and Oschadbank. According to the NBU, all necessary documents were prepared in accordance with international transportation rules and current European customs procedures. The route was standard — similar trips were carried out on a regular basis.
Kyiv's Reaction: “Hostage-taking and robbery”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiga reacted strongly. “Today in Budapest, Hungarian authorities took seven citizens of Ukraine hostage,” he wrote on his X account. According to him, this is not a legal dispute, but a crime of state scale.
“Basically, Hungary has taken hostages and stolen money. If this is the 'power' that Mr. Orban spoke about today, then this is the power of a criminal gang. This is state terrorism and racketeering,” Sibiga stated.
NBU head Andrii Pyshny also made an official statement, promising that “there will be a reaction to the illegal actions.”
Hungary's Version
Hungary claims that the Ukrainian Oschadbank cash-in-transit officers were detained in a money laundering case.
Among the seven detained is a former SBU general who was responsible for managing the cargo, media reports citing the Hungarian tax authority (NAV) state.
The two armored cash-in-transit vehicles were transporting $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kg of gold from Austria to Ukraine. In total, just over 2 months this year, more than $900 million, €420 million, and 146 kg of gold bars were transported.
Hungary claims it notified Ukrainian law enforcement about the detention but received no response.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demands access to the detainees.
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