Oschadbank Cash Collectors Captured by Hungary Return to Ukraine

Seven Ukrainian cash collectors from Oschadbank, who were captured by Hungarian security forces on March 5 in Budapest, have already returned to Ukraine.

This was announced by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on his social media page.

According to the foreign minister, he informed President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine had succeeded in securing the release of the captured cash collectors.

“I thank our team at the MFA and Ukraine’s embassy in Hungary, as well as our law enforcement, government agencies, state banks, and everyone who helped achieve their release,” he said.

As noted by the head of the National Bank of Ukraine, Andrii Pyshnyi, the fact that the cash collectors were quickly released clearly proves that the Hungarian authorities had no legal grounds to detain and hold Ukrainian citizens.

As a reminder, Hungary kidnapped a cash collection team from the state-owned Oschadbank, which was transporting valuables between Austria and Ukraine in two cars.

The incident occurred on Thursday, March 5, during the regular transport of $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kg of gold between Raiffeisen Bank International and the Ukrainian state bank.

The stolen cash transport vehicles were hidden in the closed territory of Hungarian Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK). This is a law enforcement agency under the control of the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior, which is often involved in carrying out political orders from the Hungarian government.