The SSU Counterintelligence has shut down a large-scale channel of financing russian occupation groups on the eastern front.

As a result of a special operation in Sumy region, the SSU neutralized a criminal group that helped ruscists exchange stolen millions of Ukrainian hryvnias to russian rubles.

The group’s organizers secretly crossed the border and met in russia with representatives of commanders of the occupation groups.

The latter handed over money stolen from civilians in the temporarily occupied areas of eastern Ukraine to the dealers.

The criminal group illegally converted the hryvnias into rubles through clandestine ‘exchange points’ in Ukraine. To do this, they used their connections in criminal circles.

Then, the dealers personally smuggled the russian currency to the aggressor state, bypassing border checkpoints.

According to preliminary assessment, they exchanged and handed over RUB 10 mln to the invaders.

The enemy used this money to finance the ruscists’ groups fighting against Ukrainian Defence Forces in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The SSU detained the organizers of the criminal group on their attempt to hand over RUB 2 mln to russians.

According to the investigation, the two detainees are residents of Sumy oblast who at the beginning of the full-scale invasion supported russian invaders and offered their assistance.

According to intelligence, the perpetrators had their own ‘share’ from each ‘transaction’ and expected ruscists’ support if the region is captured.

During the searches at the suspects’ homes and vehicles, the law enforcement found:

• cash prepared for ‘exchange’;
• mobile phones with evidence of criminal activity;
• firearms and ammunition.

SSU investigators notified both offenders of suspicion under the Articles 15.3, 111-1.4 of the CCU (attempted transfer of material resources to illegal armed or paramilitary groups established in the temporarily occupied territory and/or armed or paramilitary groups of the aggressor state).

Court has chosen custody as a measure of restraint for one of the suspects and is to decide on such a measure for the second detainee.

The investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Sumy region carried out the operation under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.