Hungary has detained seven Ukrainians, including a former intelligence officer, suspected of money laundering while transporting around $82 million in cash and gold. This action has heightened tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, particularly over oil shipment disputes. The Hungarian Tax Authority collaborated with counter-terrorism forces to stop two armored vehicles at a service station, where officers arrested the individuals and seized their cargo. Hungary has blocked substantial EU aid to Ukraine, and the tax authority is conducting criminal proceedings related to the case.
Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, accused Hungary of taking hostages and stealing money, labeling the incident as state terrorism and racketeering. They demanded the immediate release of the detainees and threatened to appeal to the EU regarding Hungary’s actions. Ukraine has also advised its citizens to avoid travel to Hungary due to safety concerns caused by what it described as arbitrary actions of the Hungarian authorities.
The tension stems from an ongoing disagreement between Hungary and Ukraine regarding oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline, which has been hindered by damage from a Russian drone strike. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has criticized Ukraine for allegedly delaying repairs for political reasons. With elections approaching, Orban is using the situation to bolster his position, arguing against new EU sanctions and a loan for Ukraine, linking these issues to domestic politics.
Ukraine’s Oschadbank stated that the detained individuals were engaged in routine cash transport operations, emphasizing that such actions are common and conducted regularly since the beginning of the war. Despite the ongoing situation, Orban indicated that Hungary would continue to apply pressure on Ukraine until oil shipments resume, although he did not reference the detention incident directly.
With information from Reuters
