Ukrainian bank staff detained in Hungary: Kyiv alleges “hostage-taking”, Budapest launches money-laundering probe

Hungarian counter-terrorism officers detained seven Ukrainian bank employees after stopping two armoured cash-transport vehicles on the M5 motorway on Thursday, triggering a diplomatic row between Budapest and Kyiv.

According to a report from Telex, members of Hungary’s Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) carried out a raid at a petrol station along the motorway, targeting two Ukrainian-registered cash-in-transit vehicles. Witnesses said officers dressed in black forced the passengers out of the vehicles and onto the ground before taking them into custody.

The convoy later headed towards Budapest. Hungarian police and TEK did not initially comment on the reasons behind the operation.

However, Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) later confirmed that the seven Ukrainian nationals had been detained on suspicion of money laundering.

Kyiv accuses Hungary of “hostage-taking”

Ukraine reacted sharply to the incident. In a statement published early Friday, the Ukrainian Embassy in Budapest cited Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, saying Hungarian authorities had “effectively taken seven Ukrainian citizens hostage”.

The embassy said the detainees were employees of Ukraine’s state savings bank, Oschadbank, who were transporting cash as part of a regular interbank service between the Ukrainian institution and Raiffeisen Bank International in Austria.

Ukrainian officials claimed the vehicles were conducting an official transit operation between Austria and Ukraine and that the shipment complied with international transport and customs rules.

Kyiv accused Hungary of unlawfully detaining the staff and seizing the cargo. Ukrainian authorities said they had already sent a diplomatic note demanding the immediate release of the seven citizens and clarification regarding their detention.

The Ukrainian government also indicated it would turn to the European Union to seek a legal assessment of Hungary’s actions.

Shortly after 10 AM on Friday, Sybiha posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Ukrainian consuls have still not been permitted access to seven Ukrainian citizens taken hostage in Budapest. The Hungarian side has not provided any explanation. We demand their immediate release and prepare next actions, including at the EU level”.