Kateryna Zhiriy12:22, 06.03.26

Criminal proceedings were opened against the Ukrainians on suspicion of money laundering.

The Hungarian Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) accused the Ukrainian hostages of money laundering.

According to the Hungarian publication Telex , the National Tax and Customs Administration has opened criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering against employees of Oschadbank who were transporting money and were detained in Hungary. 

The NAV statement refers to the arrest of seven Ukrainian citizens, including a former general of Ukrainian intelligence, and two armored cars loaded with cash, which were allegedly transporting a total of $40 million, €35 million and 9 kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine. According to the statement, more than $900 million, €420 million and 146 kilograms of gold bars have been transported to Ukraine through Hungarian territory since the beginning of the year.

The statement says that NAV is conducting an investigation in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act with the assistance of the Anti-Terrorism Center. They claim that the Ukrainian consular service was immediately notified of the initiation of the procedure, but no response has been received so far.

At the same time, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga stated that Ukrainian consuls have still not received access to the seven Ukrainian citizens taken hostage in Budapest. 

Kidnapping of Ukrainians in Hungary – top news

On March 5, employees of the state-owned Oschadbank were kidnapped in Hungary, along with their cash collection machines and valuables. These seven Ukrainians are employees of the state-owned Oschadbank, who were driving two bank cars that were plying between Austria and Ukraine, transporting cash as part of regular services between state-owned banks.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has already sent an official note demanding the immediate release of Ukrainian citizens. Ukraine will also appeal to the European Union to provide a clear qualification of Hungary’s illegal actions, hostage-taking and robbery. 

It later became known that Hungary had hidden the stolen Sberbank collection machines on the territory of the Anti-Terrorism Center. This structure is a law enforcement unit subordinate to the Hungarian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

(C)UNIAN 2026