Hungary Sparks Row With Kyiv After Seizing $81 Million in Cash, Gold, Arresting 7 Ukrainians

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said the cash transfers posed ’serious questions about a possible link to the Ukrainian war mafia.’
Hungary Sparks Row With Kyiv After Seizing $81 Million in Cash, Gold, Arresting 7 Ukrainians
Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto speaks to the press as he arrives for the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Feb. 23, 2026. John Thys/AFP via Getty Images
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Hungarian authorities said on March 6 that they had detained seven Ukrainian citizens, including a former intelligence officer, on suspicion of money laundering and seized two armored cars carrying $80 million in cash and $1.5 million worth of gold.

“We demand immediate answers from Kyiv regarding large cash shipments passing through Hungary that raise serious questions about a possible link to the Ukrainian war mafia,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto posted on X

Chris Summers
Chris Summers
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Chris Summers is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of national stories, with a particular interest in crime, policing and the law.