The SSU continues to identify and block assets of pro-kremlin corporations involved in financing the war against Ukraine.

As a result of operational and investigative efforts jointly with the Bureau of Economic Security, the location of clandestine russian warehouses, where over 160,000 tons of Ukrainian iron ore were stored, was established.

The hidden raw materials were found in several Ukrainian seaports.

The total value of the seized minerals is almost UAH 2 bln.

The investigation established that the uncovered batch of iron ore belongs to the company of a russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, who is a member of the inner circle of kremlin’s top military and political leadership.

After February 24 this year, the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, the US and the EU imposed sanctions on him.

According to intelligence, representatives of the aggressor state tried to illegally transport the hidden raw materials to russia by sea.

Further, they planned to hand the minerals over to russia’s metallurgical industry and military-industrial complex to use them for the needs of russian occupation forces.

However, the SSU disrupted these moscow’s plans.

Following the SSU’s investigation, the property was arrested and the decision to hand it over to the National Agency of Ukraine for Detection, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA) is pending.

The SSU is acting to identify all hidden assets of russian oligarchs involved in preparing and conducting the full-scale aggression against Ukraine.

The operational and investigative activities were carried out by the SSU jointly with the Bureau of Economic Security under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.