Ukraine is initiating legal action and an independent international audit into the seizure of money and valuables that occurred during transit on Hungarian territory. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) stated that Governor Andriy Pyshnyy has sent official letters to European partners regarding the incident.
Hungarian authorities seized two vehicles belonging to Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank, carrying $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine. Budapest linked the detention to suspicions of money laundering and alleged evidence of Ukraine funding the opposition Tisza Party.
Oschadbank denied any links to the Hungarian opposition, stating the vehicles were conducting a routine transfer from Austria's Raiffeisen Bank to Kyiv. The NBU confirmed the transit is routine, a necessary measure due to the ongoing full-scale war.
Kyiv has denounced the detention as "state terrorism" and demanded the return of the funds. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ordered the government to hold the seized assets for up to 60 days pending an investigation. A bill has been submitted to legalize the seizure until the investigation concludes.
Ukraine's foreign ministry also reported that seven Oschadbank employees were subjected to "physical and psychological pressure" during their 28-hour detention in Hungary, including being blindfolded, handcuffed, and denied access to legal representation and medical assistance.