Hungary's PM demands Orbán take responsibility for raid on Ukrainian bank vehicles

Jun 3, 2026 - 11:11

Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar has responded to a Hungarian media report confirming that former prime minister Viktor Orbán was responsible for an operation in March in which Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff were detained and Oschadbank assets seized.

Source: Magyar on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Magyar said Orbán had initiated the raid on Oschadbank, Ukraine's state savings bank, and personally directed the work of the law enforcement agencies and special services.

Quote: "Viktor Orbán personally directed the work of the law enforcement agencies and special services. He was able to make decisions himself on carrying out raids or delaying investigations. He must take responsibility."

Details: Magyar's statement followed the publication of an investigation by Hungarian investigative journalism outlet Telex into the Ukrainian "gold convoy" – an operation that saw seven cash-in-transit staff arrested and Oschadbank funds seized outside Budapest on 5 March. The report said former prime minister Viktor Orban had been behind the order to conduct the raid and even specified the date when it was to be carried out.

There were no legal grounds for the operation, which was purely a political blunder and an attempt to put pressure on Ukraine to unblock the Druzhba oil pipeline.

Background: On 6 May, Hungary returned the Oschadbank money and valuables to Ukraine following the election defeat of Orbán's Fidesz party.

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