Ukraine says Ukrainian bank employees detained with cash shipment in Hungary | CNN

Hungary said on Friday it had ⁠detained seven Ukrainians carrying around $82 million in cash and gold on suspicion of money laundering, as Kyiv ​accused Budapest of taking bank employees hostage amid a dispute over oil shipments. The Hungarian Tax Authority’s decision to have counter-terrorism forces swoop on two Ukrainian armored vehicles transporting cash to Ukraine marks a dramatic escalation of tensions that have already resulted in Budapest blocking tens of billions of euros in European Union aid for Kyiv. “The National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) is pursuing criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering,” the authority said in a ⁠statement. “On March 5, 2026, it detained seven Ukrainian citizens, including a former Ukrainian intelligence service general, and two armored cash-in-transit vehicles, which were transporting a total ​of $40 million, 35 million euros and nine kilograms of gold from Austria to Ukraine.” The tax authority said it was working together with counter-terrorism forces. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Kyiv must provide answers regarding cash transits across Hungary. Government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs â