Hungary reveals footage of Ukrainian cash collectors being taken hostage
Photo: Hungary took Ukrainian cash collectors hostage (screenshot)
Hungarian law enforcement took Oschadbank cash collectors hostage while they were transporting a large sum from Austria. A video of the incident has appeared, according to the Hungarian government on Facebook.
The video shows Hungarian law enforcement detaining Ukrainian cash collectors at a gas station. The Ukrainians were handcuffed and forced face down on the ground.
The operation was dubbed by the Hungarians as the "Ukrainian gold convoy."
Hungary claims that after the detention, seven Ukrainian citizens were deported. However, the Ukrainian side has not yet officially confirmed these reports.
Scandal over the detention of Ukrainian cash collectors
On March 5, 2026, the detention in Hungary of two Oschadbank cash-in-transit vehicles carrying $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kg of gold escalated the crisis in relations between Kyiv and Budapest.
The Hungarian side justifies its actions by citing "suspicion of money laundering." According to Budapest, the operation was overseen by a "former SBU general."
Ukraine, for its part, officially classifies the incident as "state banditry" and the taking of hostages. The vehicles, which were on a regular route from Austria and complied with all international procedures, were blocked at the premises of Hungary’s Anti-Terrorism Center.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of the conflict between Ukraine and Hungary over the Druzhba pipeline. This infrastructure was halted after a Russian strike. Budapest began demanding that Ukraine repair the pipeline and used the threat of blocking an EU loan of €90 billion as leverage.
Read more about the incident in Hungary in the RBC-Ukraine material.
