Oschadbank cash collection employees returned to Ukraine

Seven employees of Oschadbank's cash collection service, who were illegally detained on March 5 by Hungarian law enforcement agencies while performing their regular duties, crossed the Ukrainian border and returned to Ukraine.

All seven men are now safe and receiving the necessary support from Oschadbank. They are in a difficult emotional state, and one of them has suffered an exacerbation of a chronic illness as a result of the ordeal. He was provided with the necessary medical assistance at the Ukrainian border.

Oschadbank is grateful to the National Bank of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the diplomatic missions of Ukraine in Hungary, and all the state authorities involved for their assistance in returning the bank's employees home.

Oschadbank continues to work with Ukrainian state authorities and international partners to clarify all the circumstances of the illegal detention of Oschadbank employees and the return of the cash collection vehicles and the valuables they were carrying. The total value of the valuables in the two vehicles was US$40 million, €35 million, and 9 kg of bank gold.

Oschadbank will consistently defend its interests in all international authorities.

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We would like to remind you that on March 5, 2026, during a regular flight carrying foreign currency and bank metals, two vehicles belonging to Oschadbank's cash collection service were detained by Hungarian law enforcement agencies. Seven employees of the bank's cash collection service were detained along with the vehicles.

The transportation was carried out under an international agreement between Oschadbank and Raiffeisen Bank Austria. The cargo was cleared in accordance with international transport rules and applicable European customs procedures.

The cash-in-transit vehicles were transporting funds and bank metals belonging to the state-owned Oschadbank and intended to ensure cash circulation in Ukraine.

The location of the vehicles was determined by GPS signal in the center of Budapest near one of Hungary's law enforcement agencies. This information was confirmed by representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

On March 6, Oschadbank reported that it had not received any official notification from the Hungarian side regarding the grounds for the detention of the cash-in-transit vehicles and bank employees and appealed to the competent authorities to immediately release its employees.

Representatives of the bank's management and lawyers are working in Hungary.