Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have exposed an illegal scheme involving Russian biker Alexandr Zaldostanov, nicknamed Surgeon, who in conjunction with the management of two financial companies Forex Trend and Forex Trend Ltd. seized the funds of citizens of Ukraine, Russia and the CIS countries, some of which were used to finance terrorists of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.

"It has been established that the offenders seized the funds that citizens invested in the companies for further investment into international financial markets. The fraudsters converted these funds into cash through accounts opened by members of the Night Wolves biker club, and part of the assigned amount was transferred to support militants from the DPR and LPR," the SBU press center said in a statement released on Tuesday.

During searches at the two companies' offices in Ukraine, the SBU seized financial and economic documentation which confirmed the transactions took place, including through the use of Russian financial instruments.

"Law enforcement officers found computer equipment which contains information about illegal financial transactions, as well as a considerable amount of cash in Russian rubles and U.S. dollars and commemorative awards of the Russian Federal Security Service, a dirk and a watch," the statement reads.

Criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Article 258-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (financing terrorism) have been launched.