politics
March 9, 2026
Hungary and Ukraine clash over ‘war mafia’ cash convoy: What we know so far
Hungary has impounded Ukrainian trucks carrying tens of millions of dollars in a money laundering probe
TL;DR
- Hungary's Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) intercepted two armored vehicles carrying $40 million and €35 million in cash, plus nine kilograms of gold.
- Hungarian authorities detained and deported seven Ukrainian nationals involved in the transfer.
- Hungary suspects the cash and gold could be linked to a Ukrainian 'war mafia,' while Ukraine accuses Hungary of 'blackmail' and 'theft.'
- The incident escalates existing tensions between Hungary and Ukraine over issues like oil transit and military support.
- Ukrainian President Zelensky issued a veiled threat against Hungarian Prime Minister Orban after Hungary blocked an EU loan, with Orban responding defiantly.
Continue reading the original article