In Kyiv, the SSU blocked a channel of ‘legalizing’ money of the ‘DNR’ terrorist organization.

The entity involved is a telecommunications services company that operates in the occupied Donetsk and closely collaborates with the local occupation administration.

The company provides Internet services and broadcasts pro-russian TV channels in the region, regularly paying ‘taxes’ to the russian budget.

The ‘businesspersons’ transferred part of their profit to the Ukraine-controlled territory for further conversion into foreign currency and smuggling abroad.

For this purpose, the dealers registered a fictitious company with the same name in Kyiv and opened over 30 bank accounts to which they illegally transferred money received from the business in Donetsk.

During the searches of the offices and homes of the participants of the scheme in Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk region, the SSU found almost UAH 5 mln in cash. Another 1.5 mln was hidden on the accounts of five Ukrainian banks.

The SSU is verifying information on possible use of these funds to finance russian agents in Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the unlawful activity was organized by three executives of a Donetsk Internet provider.

In 2014, after russia’s sham referendum, the businessmen ‘re-registered’ the company under the ‘legislation’ of the aggressor state, provided their facilities for installation of the FSB’s special equipment for tracking subscribers, and began broadcasting anti-Ukrainian content.

As a result of operational and investigative activities, the SSU detained the company’s technical director in Prykarpattia.

SSU investigators have notified the detainee of suspicion under the Article 258-3.1 of the CCU (aiding a terrorist organization).

Court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint.

The decision is pending on notifying of suspicion and declaring wanted the other two co-founders of the commercial entity, who are hiding in Donetsk and in one of the EU states.

The court seized all the real estate of the suspects, worth UAH 20 mln, in different regions of Ukraine.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the involved to justice.

The SSU carried out the operation under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.