Zelenskyy calls Hungary's actions against Oschadbank convoy 'banditry,' urges partners not to stay silent
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Hungary's detention of an armored cash convoy of Ukraine's state-owned Oschadbank as an act of banditry and indicated he expects a reaction from partner countries.
"The example of banditry fits very well. That's what this was. As for partners, I have spoken with many of them and once again I repeat publicly what I told many of our friends: Europe needs to do one thing today – not remain silent," Zelenskyy said while answering journalists' questions on Tuesday.
As reported, on March 5, 2026, two armored vehicles of Oschadbank's cash collection service carrying seven employees, $40 million, EUR 35 million and 9 kilograms of bank gold were detained in Hungary while transporting foreign currency and bank metals under an international agreement between Oschadbank and Raiffeisen Bank International (Austria).
Oschadbank has demanded the return of the two armored vehicles and the valuables they were carrying, which were detained in Hungary on March 5. According to the bank's press service, the seven employees accompanying the cargo have returned to Ukraine, but the bank's property remains unlawfully detained.
Hungary's Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár said the seizure of funds belonging to Ukraine's Oschadbank that were being transported from Austria through Hungary was deliberate and that Hungary does not intend to return them to Ukraine. According to him, the seizure is linked to the suspension of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged during Russian shelling in January.