MOSCOW, January 23 (RAPSI) – Ukrainian prosecutors questioned billionaire Rinat Akhmetov as part of a terrorist financing investigation, Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The questioning that took place on on January 22 reportedly lasted six hours.

Akhmetov was subpoenaed for questioning after a certain “separatist video” mentioned Akhmetov, the leader of the party 'Ukraine – Forward' Natalia Korolevska , and Oleksandr Yefremov, one of the leaders of the former ruling Party of Regions.

Prosecutors have been auditing Korolevska’s records for involvement in the financing of illegal armed groups (implying the Eastern Ukrainian separatists).

Rinat Akhmetov is believed to be the richest man in Ukraine. The Ukrainian edition of Forbes assessed his personal wealth at $11.2 billion. Akhmetov is the founder and president of System Capital Management (SCM), a major financial and industrial holding company with headquarters in now seiged city of Donetsk, and has assets in the steel, energy, banking and other sectors.

Akhmetov is also believed to be one of the largest sponsors of the Party of Regions, which was pushed to the sidelines after the change of government in Ukraine last year.

Ukrainian government launched a military operation in Spring of 2014 to suppress the separatist movement in Eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, which refused to recognize its legitimacy.