SBU Counterintelligence officers exposed and blocked a scheme for illegal receipt of social benefits from the state budget by IAF members.

Allegedly, for a monetary reward a resident of Horlivka issued documents for paying social benefits to residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region. SBU established, that on the territory controlled by Ukrainian authorities the perpetrator personally received illegally accrued money and delivered it to the occupied districts of Donetsk region through the contact line or via Russia. Among the customers of the "service" were members of illegal armed formations.

The suspect was detained at Hoptivka checkpoint in Kharkiv region while trying to cross the state border. During the searches, SBU seized almost UAH 750,000 (USD 27,170), bank cards, powers of attorney, draft notes and other documentary materials confirming the money receipt by terrorists of the so-called “DNR”.

The detainee was served a notice of suspicion of act of terrorism (Part 1 of Art. 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The issue of choosing a form of detention is being settled. The investigation is ongoing to identify and prosecute all persons involved in illegal transactions.

To remind, in July 2020 the CI detained three perpetrators during their attempt of illegal withdrawal of cash for its further movement to temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region.