Oschadbank employees detained by Hungary have worked there from 3 to 21 years, all valuables belong to the bank – statement
All employees of the Oschadbank collection service illegally detained in Hungary have extensive experience working at the institution, ranging from 3-4 years to 17-21 years, according to a statement from the state financial institution on Friday.
"The valuables located in the seized vehicles belong to the state-owned Oschadbank. These are funds entrusted to the bank by the citizens and businesses of Ukraine… Oschadbank demands the immediate release of its employees and the return of the detained vehicles and valuables of the state bank," the document emphasizes.
Hungarian representatives previously explained the detention of the Oschadbank employees by citing the transport of large quantities of cash and gold, noting that the detainees include a former general of the Security Service of Ukraine and a former major of the Ukrainian Air Force. Budapest also announced the deportation of the Oschadbank employees.
The Ukrainian bank emphasized that the valuables were being transported from Austria for further use in circulation and to saturate Ukraine’s cash market; similar trips are carried out by Oschadbank collection vehicles weekly.
"The bank sees no possible legal basis for the detention of the collection vehicles and accompanying personnel who were carrying out a traditional trip… The total volume of Oschadbank funds, the fate of which is currently unknown, amounts to $40 million, EUR 35 million, and 9 kg of gold," the statement notes.
The financial institution reminded that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the transport of foreign currency and banking metals has occurred exclusively by land; Oschadbank holds the appropriate license for international transport issued by the State Service of Ukraine for Transport Safety.
As reported, on March 5, 2026, two Oschadbank collection vehicles were detained in Hungary during a regular transport of foreign currency and banking metals. The transport of funds and valuables was carried out within the framework of an international agreement between Oschadbank and Raiffeisen Bank Austria. The cargo was documented in accordance with international transport rules and current European customs procedures.
The National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary (NAV) subsequently reported criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering. According to the Hungarian agency, during this year, more than $900 million and EUR 420 million in cash, as well as 146 kg of gold bars, have been transported through Hungarian territory toward Ukraine. NAV noted that the investigation is being conducted with the involvement of the Counter-Terrorism Center.
According to the Hungarian publication Telex, the detention of the collection vehicles took place on March 5 during a TEK special operation at a gas station on the M5 motorway, after which the convoy proceeded to the secret service office in Budapest.
