SBU charges Russian national with laundering funds for Russian intelligence network

Suspicion of financing an intelligence network

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has informed Russian Federation citizen Aleksandr Aleinikov of suspicion of laundering proceeds obtained by criminal means. According to the investigation, his activities were linked to the financing of an intelligence network organised on Ukrainian territory by Azat Bakirov, an officer of the 8th Department of the "K" Directorate of the 4th Service of the Russian FSB.

Laundering scheme through shadow structures

According to the investigation, Azat Bakirov recruited Aleinikov to work in this network. To finance the intelligence apparatus and subversive activities against Ukraine, Aleinikov allegedly used a scheme of fraudulent appropriation of funds through a base of shadow "call centres". He acted as the organiser, providing general oversight among participants and coordinating the actions of these centres' operators and other accomplices on Ukrainian territory. He is also charged with recruiting an active SBU officer into illegal activities.

Details of a fraud operation in Kyiv

In November 2025, in Kyiv, a Ukrainian citizen, acting on Aleinikov's instructions, met with a local resident. Posing as an "SBU officer" and citing the need to seize property for its safekeeping, he fraudulently took from the woman 5.7 kg of gold in bars, 140,000 US dollars, and 2,260 euros. The total damage to the victim amounted to 37.5 million hryvnia.

Realisation of stolen funds

The following day, the majority of the bars, specifically 5.4 kg, were sold on the shadow market. After this, the executor handed over 80,000 dollars to an SBU colonel on Prozorna Street. Another part of the funds was transferred to an electronic wallet via a crypto exchange point, the address of which was provided by Aleinikov.

Distribution of responsibilities in the investigation

The police are investigating the episode of fraudulent appropriation of a Kyiv woman's funds, while the SBU is investigating the facts of Russians organising an intelligence network in Ukraine and laundering the appropriated funds.