The wife of former Member of Parliament of Ukraine Kotvytskyy was caught by authorities in neighbouring Hungary with 28 million dollars and 1.3 million euros in cash- collected in a suitcase- as she was trying to flee the war-torn nation, Belarussian media outlets reported citing unnamed Ukrainian sources.
Belarussian media outlet NEXTA has shared a photograph of six suitcases which was full of cash.
Meanwhile, Hungarian authorities have assured the amount was declared in accordance with the law. The amount involved has raised eyebrows, with many on Twitter wondering if the ex MP’s wife had thought to donate some to the Ukrainian people to buy basic necessities like food, water, medicines and diapers for children.
At the same time, Ukraine on Monday has declined a Russian demand that its forces lay down their arms and leave Mariupol. The struggle for survival in the war-battered city has left hundreds of thousands seeking refuge as Russian forces launch wave after wave of artillery and missile attacks.
Local authorities revealed that over 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in Mariupol, seeking shelter from the heavy bombing that has severed access to electricity, heating and water.