The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) suspects its former chief, Oleksandr Yakymenko, of financing terrorism and delivering arms to the country's eastern regions, SBU chief investigator Vasyl Vovk said on Thursday.

"There is suspicion that the former head of the SBU, Yakymenko, financed terrorism and provided material aid to terrorists, specifically weapons. This delivery was organized by Yakymenko," Vovk said.

Vovk referred to information that hundreds of automatic weapons, thousands of bullets and grenades were delivered in a region near the Sea of Azov in May 2014.