Officers of the State Security Service of Ukraine neutralized a criminal group consisting of 50 people as a result of a large-scale special operation in the Sumy region. Information about this is posted on the website of the agency.

According to them, the criminals were in coordination with "thieves in law", from the so-called Sokhumi-Kutaisi clan, including from Russian territory.

According to the agency, the members of the group were trying to assert criminal influence on the residents of several regions of Ukraine, for which they set up network branches.

"They intimidated citizens, terrorized entrepreneurs and extorted money from them. Criminals used psychological pressure on the victims and threatened them with murder. The received funds were directed by the leaders of the group to the so-called thieves' budget.

In addition, the perpetrators used the income to help convicted supporters in places of detention, as well as to assert criminal influence there.

As a result of the investigative actions, the law enforcers found communication means, computer equipment, electronic bank cards, etc. on the spot", - the agency said in a statement.