The functioning of a gambling business via a networked online casino network providing illicit gambling and bookmaking services has been stopped by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

"An organized crime group worked on the territory of Ukraine for a long period of time, including in temporarily occupied territories. The moneymakers also worked in Russia, former Soviet countries and Europe," the SBU press center reported on Wednesday.

SBU said that gambling business was managed in temporarily occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.

"More than 5,000 well-hidden centers providing illegal services were discovered," the press center said.

SBU added that this gambling business financed terrorists in eastern Ukraine. This can be qualified as financing of terrorists (Article 258-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

After raiding 28 offices and residences of individuals implicated in the scheme law enforcers seized almost 1,000 PCs and server equipment, as well as documents, gambling machines and over UAH 7 million in cash.

In addition, law enforcers found a disguise call center with 400 workplaces and modern, expensive equipment used to conduct the unlawful operations.

An investigation is underway.

The Ukrainian Internet Association earlier said that the servers were seized on the technical site of V.O.K.S. LLC (Internet provider Voks) in connection of alleged infringements committed by one of the provider's client.

Many residents of Obolon district in Kyiv were left without Internet connection. Access to websites of the Finance Ministry of Ukraine, the Center of Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities in Obolon district of Kyiv, Kyiv Reproductive and Perinatal Medicine Center, Obolon district center of social services for family and youth and some other companies and organizations was blocked.

Chairman of the science and IT commission of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) Ivan Petukhov posted on his Facebook page the ruling of Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky District Dourt authorizing the raid at the Voks provider.

According to the court ruling, despite the ban on gambling business activity in Ukraine, a group of people created online resources favbet.com, favoritsport.com, favoritcasino.com and a chain of centers Favorit Sport and Zolotoy Kubok. The resources functioned using equipment connected to the Voks provider.