MOSCOW, September 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s VTB argued a claim from Ukrainian authorities about illegal character of placing Ukraine’s government bonds worth $3 billion, the bank’s press service said on Friday.

“The deal complied fully with the UK law and the current Ukrainian law,” the bank said in a statement.

The press service said the Ukrainian government had chosen VTB Capital as the placement organiser. The company made a deal using the international banking practice.

Ukraine’s Security Service said on Thursday it opened a criminal probe into the country’s former Finance Minister Yuri Kolobov, who is suspected of organisation of illegal transfer of a commission of $450,000 in fee to Russia’s state-run VTB Capital for placing the debt.