Ukraine accused Hungary's pro-Russian government of taking the Ukrainians hostage and illegally seizing millions of dollars in cash.
“We will not tolerate this state banditism,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X on Friday. “Everyone who is responsible for taking and holding our citizens hostage will be held accountable.”
The seven detained Ukrainians were employees of the Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank, who were traveling in two armored cars that were carrying the money between Austria and Ukraine as part of regular services between state banks, Sybiha said.
The shipment apprehended by Hungary included 40 million U.S. dollars as well as 35 million euros and 9 kilograms (19.8 pounds) of gold — worth around $1.5 million at current prices — according to a separate statement by Oschadbank.
Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration confirmed Friday that it had detained the Ukrainian citizens and seized the two armored cash-transport vehicles. It added it was conducting criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering.
In a later statement, Hungary's Government Information Center said the seven Ukrainians would be expelled from Hungarian territory on Friday. It said they included a former general of the Ukrainian Security Service, a former major of the Ukrainian Air Force and “individuals with military experience.”
The statement did not detail why, if the Ukrainians were suspected of money laundering, they would be released from custody and expelled.
The incident further inflamed rising tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, which are embroiled in a bitter feud over Hungary's access to Russian oil through a pipeline that crosses Ukrainian territory.
Oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline have been interrupted since Jan. 27. Ukraine says a Russian drone strike damaged the pipeline's infrastructure, and that repairing it carried risks to technicians. It said that even if restored, it would remain vulnerable to further Russian attacks.
Hungary's government has accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up supplies of Russian crude, and has vowed to take strong countermeasures against Kyiv until oil flows resume.
