Hungary seizes Oschadbank cash trucks: Ukraine's central bank responds as location revealed
Building of National Bank of Ukraine (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
National Bank of Ukraine reacted to the abduction of Oschadbank collectors in Hungary and demanded explanations from Hungarian authorities, according to a statement of the National Bank of Ukraine.
According to Oschadbank (Ukrainian state-owned bank), on March 5, 2026, two cash collection service vehicles were detained by representatives of law enforcement authorities of Hungary.
"There were seven bank employees in cash collection teams. Their current whereabouts are unknown, and mobile communication is absent," the statement says.
According to GPS data, cash collection vehicles may be located in the center of Budapest.
As noted by the National Bank of Ukraine, cash collection teams were carrying out another transportation of a significant amount of foreign currency and bank metals within the framework of an international contract between Raiffeisen Bank International AG (a banking group based in Austria) and Joint Stock Company Oschadbank.
Cargo, according to the bank, was processed in accordance with international transport rules and current European customs procedures.
National Bank of Ukraine emphasized that it demands the immediate release of citizens of Ukraine from Hungarian authorities, as well as an official explanation of the reasons for detention.
In addition, the National Bank of Ukraine insists on receiving information about the location of cash collection vehicles and cargo.
Later, the source familiar with the situation told RBC-Ukraine that the cash-in-transit vehicles are located on the premises of Hungary’s Counter Terrorism Center, a law enforcement body subordinate to the Hungarian Interior Ministry.
What preceded
Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, reported on the abduction of Oschadbank employees in Budapest.
According to him, seven Ukrainians are employees of the state bank who were carrying out a trip between Austria and Ukraine using two cash collection vehicles.
They were transporting money and valuables within the framework of regular transfers between state banks.
Ukraine will also appeal to the European Union regarding the clear qualification of illegal actions of Hungary, hostage taking, and robbery, Sybiha added.
