The diplomatic conflict between Budapest and Kyiv escalated into an open confrontation following an unprecedented incident on Hungarian soil. Hungarian law enforcement officers conducted an operation to detain seven employees of the Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank, who were escorting two armored cash-in-transit vehicles. According to the financial institution's official data, the vehicles were carrying colossal amounts of valuables: approximately $40 million, €35 million, and 9 kilograms of gold bars. The cargo was transiting from Austria to Ukraine but was blocked by Hungarian authorities before crossing the border. The location of the special vehicles has now been tracked using navigation systems: GPS data indicates that the vehicles are in central Budapest, in close proximity to the building of one of the country's key law enforcement agencies.

The Ukrainian response was immediate and extremely harsh. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha issued an official statement accusing the Hungarian authorities of state terrorism and racketeering. According to the diplomat, Budapest effectively took bank employees hostage and stole funds under the guise of state interests. Sybiha emphasized that such actions are reminiscent of the methods of criminal groups and linked the incident to recent bellicose statements by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In response to the accusations, the Hungarian National Tax Authority issued its first official statement, stating that the detention of the cash collectors and the seizure of assets were not a political gesture but were being carried out in strict accordance with the law as part of a large-scale money laundering investigation. The scandal continues to escalate, jeopardizing the remaining diplomatic relations between the countries amid mutual accusations of criminal activity.