Security Service of Ukraine halts laundering of UAH 15 bln of Russian capital
Headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) in Kiev.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has stopped the activity of a financial scheme through which Russian funds equaling UAH 15 bln were moved into a “shadow vehicle,” the SSU press center wrote on Aug. 16.
“The illegal mechanism operating in a form of a branched ‘conversion center’ consisted of massive financial movements of Russian capital on the territory of Ukraine,” according to the press center. “The funds estimated to come to UAH 15 bln were tunneled to the accounts of offshore companies and, subsequently, through specially created fictitious companies involving dozens of commercial banking institutions, before entering Ukraine and being converted into cash.”
The investigation disclosed some money cashed in Ukraine remained in the country and was used to finance illegal activities.
At present, the SSU is checking the possible usage of Russian assets in criminal endeavors against Maidan activists, namely for payments to “titushki” [a term used for mercenary agents who supported the Ukrainian police force during the administration of Viktor Yanukovych] and “anti-Maidan activists.”
Photo courtesy of Bibikoff.
