“Since 2014, the SBU has initiated 16,643 criminal proceedings for treason and terrorism,” said the SBU Head Ivan Bakanov after a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.

"Any crime against the state is not just a violation of the Criminal Code. This is an attempt to disrupt our country. Therefore, such threats should be scrupulously assessed and adequately responded, " the SBU Head emphasized.

According to him, such crimes are mostly related to the Russian occupation and aggression.

In particular, high-profile cases include the 2015 artillery shelling of a residential area ​and a highway in the city of Mariupol; detention of a former official of the Cabinet of Ministers, found guilty of subversive activity in the interests of Russia; conviction of an informer providing the Russian GRU with data on the repair and modernization of military equipment, etc.

"Real results in an investigation of criminal cases instituted for treason is an extremely complicated task that should be fulfilled in close cooperation with all law enforcement agencies. We are grateful to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Ministry of the Interior and other authorities for their systematic work. We endeavor best efforts to prosecute all crimes, " Ivan Bakanov said.

The SBU is also conducting an all-out pre-trial investigation upon the fact of initiation and waging an aggressive war against Ukraine by Russia. In particular, the SBU announced suspicion to Russian high-ranking officials, including Deputy Defense Minister Andrei Kartapolov this February.

The investigation of the 2014 crash of a Malaysia Airlines plane by terrorists is crucial for people around the world. As a result, 298 passengers died on board over Donetsk region. SBU investigators took part in work of an international investigative group. All collected materials were submitted to law enforcement officers of the Netherlands. The Hague District Court is currently handling the criminal case.