In Luhansk region, the SSU documented and blocked a large-scale funding scheme of the so-called LNR occupation administration. The perpetrators made payments to the so-called LNR budget almost RUB 19 m (USD 260 800), received from the illegal food trade.

The organizers of the scheme are the owners of a large food industry entity located in Luhansk. In 2015 in the so-called LNR, the entity was re-registered and began working according to the rules of the occupiers.

The former so-called Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the so-called LNR, the director and two top managers of the company are among the defendants.

At the beginning of the occupation, the plant stopped its work, and the perpetrators imported the equipment and food ingredients from the unoccupied territories of Ukraine to resume production. They used the mechanism of the so-called interrupted transit: the necessary goods were supplied from the territory controlled by Ukraine allegedly to Baltics buyers, who resold them to the partners in the Transcaucasus.

The goods were sent in transit through Russia to final consumers, but in fact they were imported into the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk region through the uncontrolled area of the Ukrainian-Russian border. Finished products were sold in separatist-held territories and Russia.

The entity has been operating for 2.5 years, during that time the company enriched the occupiers' budget with almost RUB 19 m (USD 260 800).

The four organizers served the suspicion notice for the trespass against territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine. They are wanted.

The pre-trial investigation is underway.

The operation was carried out under the procedural guidance of the Luhansk Region Prosecutor's Office.