The Security Service of Ukraine in Kiev and Odessa conducted authorized searches in the offices of the subsidiary structure of the Russian company "Yandex". Law enforcers found that the management of the company illegally collected, accumulated and transferred to Russia personal data of Ukrainian citizens.

According to the press service of the SBU, Yandex collected personal data - occupation, way of life, place of stay, residence, work, leisure, sources and amounts of income, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and accounts in social networks.

The special services operatives documented that among the citizens reported to the RF there are law enforcement and special forces officers, servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other units taking part in the anti-terrorist operation in the east of Ukraine, state and government officials.

According to the SBU, the information was transmitted to special services of the Russian Federation for planning, organizing and conducting reconnaissance, sabotage, information-subversive operations "to the detriment of Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability".

During the searches, SBU officers found server equipment and documentation that would be sent for examination.

During it, the facts of collection, accumulation and transfer to the Russian side of the personal data of citizens of Ukraine. Experts will analyze the redirection of traffic of Ukrainian users to Russian servers, as well as check the coordination of illegal activities from the territory of the Russian Federation.

The pre-trial investigation is continuing in the framework of the criminal proceedings opened under Art.. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason).