A post submitted by CGI member ScienceTruth.
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8 Mar, 2026
Hungary and Ukraine clash over ‘war mafia’ cash convoy : What we know so far.
Budapest impounded armored trucks carrying tens of Millions of dollars as part of a money laundering investigation.
[ Nine 1 kg Gold Bars !! Are those 10 Euro notes ? or 100 Euro notes ? If 10's then that's "small bills" !! if 100's that's big money !! ]
Hungarian authorities swooped in on two Ukrainian armored trucks near Budapest on Thursday, seizing tens of Millions of dollars in cash and nine kilograms of gold, sparking one of the most explosive diplomatic confrontations between the two countries in recent months. The arrest also coincided with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky issuing a direct military threat to Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
While Hungary suggested the trucks could be linked to a money-laundering operation run by a Ukrainian “war mafia”, Kiev accused Budapest of “blackmail”, “theft”, and “State banditism”. Unconfirmed media reports have also suggested the shipment may have been tied to backroom dealings between Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and EU power brokers.
The incident comes amid already strained relations between Budapest and Kiev, with the two sides locked in disputes over oil transit and Hungary’s reluctance to back Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
A Budapest Bust
On March 5, Hungary’s Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) intercepted two armored vehicles near Budapest. Officers dressed in black surrounded the trucks at a gas station and forced the crew members to the ground.
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Watch the moment the “Ukrainian gold convoy” was stopped.
In the video: armored cash vehicles carrying $40M, in the from of €35M and 9 kg of gold, through Hungary toward Ukraine.
Among those detained was a former Ukrainian Intelligence General. This is not an ordinary transfer.
https://twitter.com/i/status/2029943840442909062
https://www.rt.com/news/634170-hungary-ukraine-clash-war-maffia-convoy/
This is an "X" Video !! [ go to either of the above links to watch the video ! , as I don't know how to 'embed' a video in my posting ]
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The trucks and their crews belonged to Ukraine’s State-owned Oschadbank and were carrying $40 million; €35 Million, along with nine kilograms of gold from Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International.
Hungarian authorities briefly detained seven Ukrainian nationals, who were later deported back to their homeland. The cash, gold, and the vehicles, however, remain impounded as evidence in the criminal investigation.
General as a cash runner
Neither Ukraine nor Hungary has officially disclosed the names of those involved in the transfer. However, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said the operation was overseen by a former General from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), with a former Air Force Major acting as his Deputy. Several others also reportedly had military backgrounds.
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Hungary refusing to return ‘war mafia’ cash to Ukraine (VIDEO)
https://www.rt.com/news/634138-hunagry-ukraine-cash-fight/
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Balázs Orbán
@BalazsOrban_HU
We demand answers from Ukraine’s leadership !
Photos show the so-called “Ukrainian gold convoy” operation.
Hungarian authorities detained seven Ukrainian nationals — including a former Intelligence General — who were transporting $40 million; €35 million and 9 kg of gold.
[ photo from a posting on X - go to main article link to access this X video, as the 'link location' won't manifest for copying , so as to see more money photos !! ]
Ukrainian investigative journalist Vitaly Glagola, citing sources, identified the General as Gennady Kuznetsov, the former head of the SBU’s Center for Special Operations to Combat Terrorism, adding that he had links to the Alpha Special Forces unit.
Ukrainian ‘war mafia’
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto demanded “immediate answers” from Kiev regarding large cash shipments passing through the country, adding that they “raise serious questions about a possible link to the Ukrainian war mafia.”
According to Szijjarto, in 2026 alone, more than $900 Million; €420 Million, and 146 kilograms of gold bars were transported across Hungarian territory into Ukraine.
“Until Kiev provides clear explanations about the origin and purpose of the funds, Hungarian authorities will conduct a thorough investigation”, he added.
Ukrainian journalist Anatoly Shariy drew attention to the fact that the cash and gold were not packed in standard secure containers, suggesting the transfer could be tied to corrupt dealings between high-ranking Ukrainian officials and their backers in Brussels.
Citing sources, he claimed “the money belonged not to Zelensky himself, but to his accomplices from Europe.”
“The money belongs to very specific people. And in Brussels, they know to whom it belongs”, he said, adding that Orban’s move “hit where it hurts.”
Zelensky threatening Orban
On the day the cash trucks were impounded, Zelensky escalated his long-running war of words with Orban, denouncing his decision to block a planned €90 Billion emergency EU loan for Kiev. Budapest said it was a response to Ukraine preventing key Russian oil supplies from reaching Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline.
Zelensky said he hoped “one person” in the EU blocking the loan – widely understood to mean Orban – would reconsider his position. Otherwise, he warned, “we will give the address of this person to our armed forces… so they can communicate with him in their own language.”
Orban responded by saying “no threats to my life will deter me” from opposing what he described as Ukraine’s attempt to impose an “oil blockade” on Hungary.
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EU rebukes Zelensky over threat to Orban
https://www.rt.com/news/634091-european-commission-zelensky-threats-orban/
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Orban responds to Zelensky’s ‘death threat’
https://www.rt.com/news/633973-hungary-zelensky-military-threat/
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Why improperly packed cash in armored trucks ?
Typically, shipments of cash and gold of such value and across distances of hundreds of kilometers would be transported by air. However, after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Ukrainian airspace was closed, forcing them to go overland for security reasons, according to Strana.ua.
A source within Oschadbank told the outlet that similar deliveries had been carried out “for years, almost every week, with the same partner – Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank – and with a standard set of documents.” The source added that “this is why we view the detention as politically motivated.” Raiffeisen Bank told Bloomberg its employees were not involved, declining to comment further, citing security policies.
According to Strana, Ukraine’s banking sector imported $11.8 Billion in foreign cash in 2025 and $15.9 Billion in 2024, compared with $4.3 billion in 2021.
Sources at Oschadbank described the seized shipment as a routine delivery intended to replenish cash reserves at the bank’s branches and partner banks. However, the outlet did not explain the involvement of a former SBU General in the operation.
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Zelensky refuses to relaunch oil pipeline after threatening Orban
https://www.rt.com/russia/633924-zelensky-hungary-oil-row/
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Possible Ukrainian retaliation
Officials in Kiev said they were preparing to retaliate by urging the EU to impose sanctions on Hungary. Ukraine’s national police have opened criminal proceedings against Hungary on charges of hostage-taking and unlawful deprivation of liberty, filing requests with Europol.
According to a source cited by Strana, the National Bank of Ukraine was “furious” over the incident and is considering measures against OTP Bank Ukraine, a subsidiary of Hungary’s OTP Group and one of the country’s key banks.
However, the same source warned that any serious action against the bank could pose major risks to Ukraine’s economy at a time when it can least afford them.
Deeper fault Lines
Relations between Hungary and Ukraine have been on the rocks for years, as Budapest has been reluctant to support Kiev’s aspirations to join NATO and the EU, and has refused to send any armaments to its neighbor.
In recent months, the stand-off escalated over the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia. In late January, Kiev shut down the oil artery, claiming it was damaged in Russian strikes, which Moscow has denied. Budapest and Bratislava have echoed Russia’s stance, accusing Ukraine of blackmail and deliberate disruption of the oil supply for political reasons.
In response, Orban vetoed a new round of EU sanctions against Russia and blocked the €90 Billion loan package for Ukraine by the EU, while also deploying Hungarian troops to guard key energy infrastructure, warning that Ukraine could attempt further disruptions.
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Russia could end gas supplies to EU immediately – Putin
https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2026.03/xs/69a8757185f5404e025da096.jpg
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