Detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine jointly with cybersecurity experts of the Security Service of Ukraine exposed individuals and legal entities that organised a shadow money transfer scheme using the so-called «Юmoney» and «Webmoney» payment systems, which are banned in Ukraine.

The above-mentioned persons ensured the work of both underground exchange points and online exchangers through which transactions of cryptocurrencies, electronic money, and the Russian ruble were conducted.

The exchange transactions were carried out without being reflected in accounting and tax records, using forged transfer documents, payment cards, etc.

The money laundering was carried out in the interests of the aggressor country's special services, representatives of the "hacker community", as well as high-risk customers.

Law enforcement officers conducted searches at the residences of the owners of the exchange platforms in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Rivne and Sumy.

The ESBU employees identified and documented the withdrawal of Russian currency through the mentioned exchange offices.

As a result of 22 searches, funds were found and seized in US dollars, euros, Polish zloty, pounds sterling, Swiss francs, etc., which in total is almost UAH 60 million.

Also seized were technical means on which transactions and conversion of electronic money, cryptocurrency and the Russian ruble were recorded.

Currently, one of the suspects has been notified of suspicion of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal actions with transfer documents, payment cards and other means of access to bank accounts, electronic money, and equipment for their production). Evidence of involvement in the above-mentioned illegal activities has been documented in respect of two other persons, and a request for suspicion declaration is being prepared.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings is carried out by the ESBU detectives with operational support from the SSU officers under the procedural guidance of the prosecutors of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.