The SBU cyber specialists stopped the activity of a call-center, which worked for the banned Russian "Yandex" search system.

SBU operatives established that three businessmen set up "Yandex Taxi" firm in Smila to provide dispatching services in Central Asia and Europe. The businessmen did not officially employ workers and paid off to them in “envelopes” in order to evade tax and mandatory payments to the state budget of Ukraine. Although, during the COVID-19, the call center worked 24 hours a day the employees were not provided with the necessary anti-epidemiological agents.

During the search at the company, law enforcement officers found guidelines for servicing foreign customers, taxi drivers and technical documents with working hours of the employees. Computer equipment with software products developed and provided for use by the Russian "Yandex" has also been discovered.

Investigative and operational actions are ongoing to bring to justice all persons involved in the illegal activity.

The operation was conducted jointly with the National Police investigators under legal supervision of Smila local Prosecutor's Office.