Headlines
Hungary to expel seven Ukrainian nationals, government spokesperson says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 6, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 6, 2026
Quick Summary
Hungary detained seven Ukrainian nationals—employees of Oschadbank—who were transporting cash and gold from Austria to Ukraine, prompting Kyiv to accuse Budapest of hostage-taking and unlawful seizure amid a wider diplomatic spat over energy transit.
Hungary to Expel Ukrainian Nationals Detained for Transporting Cash and Gold
Details of the Detention and Expulsion
Incident Overview
BUDAPEST, March 6 (Reuters) - Hungary is going to expel all seven Ukrainian nationals who were detained while they were transporting cash and gold from Austria to Ukraine, government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs wrote on X on Friday.
Background of the Detainees
Leadership and Supervision
Kovacs also said that the team transporting cash and gold was "supervised by a former general of the Ukrainian Security Service, with a former major of the Ukrainian Air Force acting as deputy and assisted by individuals with military experience."
Assistance by Military Personnel
Reporting and Sources
(Reporting by Anita Komuves)
Key Takeaways
- •Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) launched a criminal investigation into alleged money laundering after detaining the convoy, which included two armored vehicles carrying $40 million, €35 million and 9 kg of gold; one detainee reportedly served as a former Ukrainian Security Service general (yahoo.com).
- •Ukraine is demanding the immediate release of its citizens and return of assets, accusing Hungary of robbery and hostage-taking, and has lodged a formal diplomatic protest and plans to seek EU legal evaluation (english.nv.ua).
- •The incident intensifies already strained Hungary–Ukraine ties, driven by disputes over halted oil deliveries via the Druzhba pipeline, Hungary’s suspension of fuel exports to Ukraine, and Budapest’s blockage of EU financial aid to Kyiv (english.nv.ua).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Hungary to expel seven Ukrainian nationals, government spokesperson says
1Why is Hungary expelling seven Ukrainian nationals?
Hungary is expelling the Ukrainian nationals because they were detained while transporting cash and gold from Austria to Ukraine.
2Who supervised the transportation of cash and gold?
The transport was supervised by a former general of the Ukrainian Security Service, with a former major of the Ukrainian Air Force acting as deputy and assistance from individuals with military experience.
3Where were the Ukrainian nationals carrying the cash and gold?
They were transporting the cash and gold from Austria to Ukraine.
4Who announced the expulsion of the Ukrainian nationals?
Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs announced the expulsion on X.
5When did the Hungarian government announce the expulsion?
The announcement was made on Friday, March 6.
