The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has said that the assets of a Russian bank were used to finance terrorist groups in east Ukraine, and criminal proceedings have been launched against bank officials.

"Criminal proceedings have been launched against officials of a Russian bank, which organized and carried out the funding of terrorists who, under the slogans of pro-Russian separatism, are operating in the eastern regions of Ukraine," the SBU press center reported.

According to the press center, in March-April this year, officials of the bank's central office in Kyiv, in defiance of the law of Ukraine on preventing and counteracting the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime or financing of terrorism," funded the organizers of "terrorist groups whose members committed violence against citizens, pogroms, arson, destruction of property, seizure of government buildings, resisted representatives of the authorities and law enforcement agencies with the use of weapons, as well as actions aimed at preparing to commit terrorist attacks."

As an example, SBU mentioned the fact when on April 6 active members of such groups occupied the building of the SBU office in Luhansk region where they seized weapons and ammunition for further use in terrorist activities.

"In order to finance terrorist groups officials of this banking institution organized in March-April the transfer of UAH 45 million from non-cash to cash," reads the report.

In addition, SBU said that the banking institution transfers every day from $200 to $500 to the payment cards issued to the members of these terrorist groups, thus actually providing financial support to them and helping them prepare for committing terrorist attacks on Ukrainian territory.

SBU investigators opened criminal proceedings on these facts under Part 3, Article 258-5 (financing of terrorism) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.