A pre-trial inquiry has been started into Russian citizens' alleged role in setting up criminal armed formations and training mercenaries to carry out terrorist operations in Ukraine, the press service of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office reported.

"Investigators have gathered irrefutable evidence of Russian citizens' role in plotting, preparing and unleashing an armed conflict - the counts stipulated in Part 1 of Article 437 of the Criminal Code, and in setting up criminal armed formations leading to deaths and other severe consequences (Part 5 of Article 260), and of their activities as mercenaries (Part 1 of Article 447) and their involvement in terror attacks (Part 3 of Article 258)," the press service said.

The Prosecutor General's Office said that, Russian citizens' criminal operations in Ukraine have left 122 people dead and almost 200 wounded, and led to other severe consequences.