Hungarian government tax authorities detained seven employees of Ukraine's state savings bank, Oschadbank, on Thursday on suspicion of money laundering while transporting cash and gold from Austria to Ukraine. Their vehicles were seized, containing $80 million in cash and 9kg of gold.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced on social media platform X on Friday evening that the workers were safe and had crossed the Ukrainian border. Sybiha accused Budapest of taking the group hostage and stealing money. Hungarian tax authorities stated the workers were detained on suspicion of money laundering and that criminal proceedings were underway.

According to Hungarian authorities, this year alone, over $900 million, €420 million, and 146kg of gold bars have been transported through Hungarian territory to Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski claimed "they've stolen the money." The current status of the seized cash and gold remains unclear.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between Ukraine and Hungary during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, seen as Russia's closest ally in the EU, has blocked a €90 billion EU aid package deemed vital for Ukraine's financing. Orbán has focused much of his election campaign on anti-Ukraine messaging.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Orbán for blocking the aid package and stated on Thursday that the Druzhba pipeline might only become operational in another four to six weeks. Zelensky also warned that if Hungary's prime minister continued to block EU funding for Ukraine, Ukrainian armed forces would be given his address, a remark condemned by the European Commission.

Source: www.bbc.com