KGB-style methods: Hungary injects Ukrainians with 'truth serum' after Oschadbank gold seizure
Photo: Hungary used forced injections on Oschadbank employees (facebook.com/oschadbank)
Hungarian security forces administered forced injections of unknown substances to employees of Ukraine’s Oschadbank who were detained while transporting state funds, The Guardian reports.
Details of the incident and allegations
According to the report, sources within Kyiv’s security services claim that one of the detainees — a former officer of the Security Service of Ukraine — was forcibly injected with a substance resembling a "truth serum."
It is noted that Hungarian intelligence services allegedly tried to make the man more talkative during questioning. However, due to his diabetes, the victim suffered a hypertensive episode and lost consciousness, after which he was hospitalized.
The victims’ Hungarian lawyer, Lóránt Horváth, confirmed that an injection had been administered, despite the client’s denial. Blood tests conducted later in Ukraine detected traces of an unknown substance.
The detainees themselves were held for more than 24 hours, most of the time blindfolded and in handcuffs.
Essence of the dispute over the funds
The incident occurred on March 5, when Hungary’s counter-terrorism police, Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK), stopped a convoy of two armored vehicles belonging to Ukraine’s Oschadbank. The transport was carrying gold and tens of millions of dollars and euros from Vienna to Ukraine.
Hungarian authorities blocked the funds, claiming they were combating the "Ukrainian war mafia" and money laundering.
At the same time, the Ukrainian side insists that it was a routine transfer of state funds and that Budapest had been informed about it in advance.
Oschadbank has already filed a criminal complaint against the Hungarian authorities over alleged abuse of office.
Political context
The raid took place ahead of the elections in Hungary. The government of Viktor Orbán is reportedly using the issue in its election campaign, portraying Ukraine as a "corrupt threat."
Hungary’s transport minister, János Lázár, directly hinted that the money would not be returned until Kyiv agrees to repair a pipeline used for the transit of Russian gas.
Dispute over the seizure of Oschadbank funds
Earlier, Hungarian authorities stated that the seized funds and gold would only be returned after the official investigation is completed. Budapest described the interception of the convoy as a "security measure," denying any political motives behind the operation.
It also emerged that during the raid, Hungarian security forces damaged the bank’s armored vehicles and "lost" part of the gold bars. The Ukrainian side accused Hungarian law enforcement of incompetence and deliberate damage to property.
The situation has also drawn a response from Brussels. Officials in the European Union condemned Hungary’s actions, stressing that such steps violate the principles of the rule of law and threaten the security of cross-border financial operations within the Schengen Area.
