The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal case against Ihor Hyrkin (Strelkov), the defense minister of the self-proclaimed 'Donetsk People's Republic', on charges of the establishment of a terrorist organization and commission of terrorist attacks on Ukrainian territory, the Office reported on Wednesday.

"He is suspected of committing crimes covered by Ukrainian Criminal Code Articles 258-3 Part 1 (the establishment of a terrorist group or a terrorist organization), Article 294 Part 1 (mass disorder), and Part 258, Part 3 (act of terrorism)," it said.

The said criminal proceeding combines a number of other counts, the Prosecutor General's Office said. In particular, Pavlo Hubarev, the self-proclaimed 'governor of the Donetsk People's Republic', has been charged with actions aimed at violently changing or overthrowing the constitutional system or seizing power (Ukrainian Criminal Code Article 109 Part 1).

"The said criminal proceeding dealing with the establishment of a terrorist organization is being investigated by the Ukrainian Security Service's investigative department, and procedural supervision is being exercised by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office," it said.