The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Bureau of Economic Security (BES) ликвидировали a network of underground cryptocurrency exchanges that operated with Russian payment systems.
According to the SBU, companies based in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy and Rivne moved rubles out of Russia by converting them into digital currency and subsequently cashing out into hryvnias.
During 22 searches, law enforcement officers seized assets totaling 60 million hryvnias (more than $1.6 million), as well as electronic media on which fiat and cryptocurrency transactions were recorded.
В БЭБ добавили, что легализация средств выполнялась в интересах спецслужб РФ. При этом обменники использовали запрещенные в Украине платежные системы WebMoney и ЮMoney, а все операции проводились в обход бухгалтерского учета и налоговых вычетов.
Правоохранители установили троих подозреваемых. Одному из них вменяют незаконные действия со средствами доступа к банковским счетам, двум другим — пособничество. Расследование продолжается.
Earlier this April, the SBU разоблачила финансовую пирамиду Life is good, which attracted funds, including cryptocurrencies, allegedly for investment in large enterprises around the world. In total, the perpetrators deceived more than 1,000 people, obtaining around $40 million from them.