The SSU continues to expose crimes of russian high-ranking officials involved in unleashing and waging of the war against Ukraine.

As a result of operational and investigative activities, the SSU collected evidence against the head of the russian Promsvyazbank, Piotr Fradkov.

This individual is a member of the kremlin’s inner circle and is one of the main organizers of introducing the so-called ‘ruble zone’ in the temporarily occupied areas of southern and eastern Ukraine.

The official is fulfilling instructions of russia’s highest military and political leadership to open ‘branches’ of Promsvyazbank on the basis of captured branches of Ukrainian financial institutions.

Fradkov also coordinates representatives of local occupation administrations responsible for blocking the circulation of Hryvnia.

To this end, the enemy has banned electronic transactions and cash payments in Hryvnia in the occupied territories and made encashment of Ukrainian currency impossible.

The ‘ruble’ proceeds received in this way are used to finance the needs of russia’s military-industrial complex and occupation groupings.

Based on the collected evidence, SSU investigators notified Fradkov of suspicion under the Article 110.3 of the CCU (committing, by prior conspiracy, intentional actions to change the boundaries of the territory and state border of Ukraine in violation of the procedure established by the Constitution of Ukraine, which led to death of people and other grave consequences).

The crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.