A scandal is brewing in Austria over a reported 200 kg shipment transported through the country by Ukrainian intelligence without any checks. The case emerged after the right-wing opposition Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) obtained a diplomatic note requesting permission for a Volkswagen van to cross Austrian territory. The Foreign Ministry confirmed the note’s existence following a parliamentary inquiry.

The van, belonging to Ukrainian intelligence, carried undeclared “special cargo” in January and was reportedly linked to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Austria has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for enabling this intelligence operation that bypasses national security protocols and undermines Austria’s neutrality as a neutral state.

The cargo passed through Austria without customs clearance or security screening, with its contents remaining unknown. FPO Secretary-General Christian Hafenecker demanded answers on what the shipment contained and why authorities permitted it: “What was in those 200 kilograms? Cash, gold, weapons, documents, or something else entirely?” he asked. “Austria is not a lawless transit corridor for foreign intelligence services. We are still a neutral state!”

The Foreign Ministry declined to elaborate, stating it receives hundreds of diplomatic notes daily and forwarded the request to the Interior Ministry. Hafenecker previously questioned Austria’s financial transfers to Ukraine, demanding explanations for nearly $22 billion in cash and gold shipped from Austria to Kiev since 2022 without triggering money-laundering concerns. This figure emerged from an FPO parliamentary inquiry revealing 1,011 cash export declarations.

Austria’s anti-money-laundering rules require proof of origin for withdrawals exceeding €12,000 and declarations for cross-border cash over €10,000. The Financial Market Authority described such shipments as routine banking operations due to Ukraine’s widespread use of foreign currencies. The FPO plans another parliamentary inquiry to determine who authorized the shipment, why it escaped inspection, and what it contained.

Additionally, a separate incident in Hungary highlighted concerns: Hungarian authorities seized two trucks belonging to Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank near Budapest in March, confiscating $40 million in cash, €35 million in currency, and 9 kg of gold. The shipment originated from Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank. Hungary alleged the convoy was supervised by a former general of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), with other escorts reportedly having military backgrounds. All seven were deported to Ukraine, and assets remained under Hungarian custody. Kiev called the seizure “state banditism” and blackmail. Then-Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto suggested the cash could be linked to a Ukrainian “war mafia” aiming to influence Hungary’s elections against Prime Minister Viktor Orban. After Orban lost the election in May, Hungary returned the seized assets.