SBU has documented the mechanism of hidden financing by governmental and non-governmental structures of Russia of fake authorities in the temporarily occupied territory of Donbas. 

Operatives and investigators of the special service have found that in order to avoid sanctions against the banking sector, Russia established special financial institutions in its own territory and in the temporarily occupied areas of Donbas. Since 2014, after the introduction of the ruble zone in the “LNR”, with their support, Russia has introduced a mechanism for financing the apparatus of the occupation authorities.

SBU has for a long time documented that in order to conceal the direct financial support of fake institutions in the seized territory of the Luhansk region, the Russian bank has engaged in scheme of financing a bank institution of South Ossetia through which funds from Russia move to the so-called "state bank of the LNR". Then the money is distributed by the self-proclaimed "Ministry of Finances of the LNR" to keep the occupation authorities and the power bloc of pseudo-state formation. In particular, "MGB", "Ministry of Internal Affairs", "People's militia” illegal armed formations.

According to Ukrainian special service, the annual amount of Russia’s funding of the pseudo-state formation in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region exceeds RUB 30 billion. This amount comprises over two-thirds of the pseudo-republic's overall “budget” needs.

In the framework of the criminal proceedings initiated under part 3 Art. 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Security Service has documented that the so-called “Minister of Finances” and Director of the “State Bank of the LNR” play a key role in the system of financing the pseudo-republic and its illegal armed formations. These persons have hold senior positions in the occupation administration since 2014. They keep in constant contact with the curators from the governmental structures of the Russia, systematically go to Moscow to agree on the allocation and distribution funds for the functioning of the so-called “LNR".

Currently, pseudo-officials have been served suspicion notes of financing actions taken with the aim of violent changing or overthrowing of the constitutional order, seizing state power, changing territory limits, or state borders of Ukraine. The offenders were put on a ‘wanted’ list. In the near future, the indictments against offenders will be sent to court for absentee conviction.

SBU continues to document actions of representatives of Russian governmental and non-governmental organizations to finance the occupation administration of the so-called “LNR”.

The operation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor's Office of Luhansk region.