Ukraine: Viktor Yanukovich Hid $70bn State Cash in Offshore Accounts, Claims New PM Arseny Yatseniuk

Arseny Yatseniuk, Ukraine's newly installed prime minister, has claimed that $70bn has gone missing from the public's balance sheets after the government of ousted President Viktor Yanukovich hid the cash away in offshore bank accounts.

Yatseniuk told parliament that said Yanukovich's administration had stripped the country of cash over the last three years.

"The sum of $70bn (£42bn, €51bn) was paid out of Ukraine's financial system into offshore accounts," he said

"I want to report to you - the state treasury has been robbed and is empty. $37bn of credit received has disappeared in an unknown direction."

"The situation was so grave that there was no other alternative but to take extraordinarily unpopular measures."

Meanwhile, Oleksander Shlapak is Ukraine's new finance minister.

He said that Ukraine will discuss a new financial aid package, worth $15bn, with the International Monetary Fund next week.

Shlapak added that it is still counting on negotiations with Russia over additional aid and over "gas related issues."

Earlier today, Yanukovich asked Russia to ensure his security in a statement released to Russian news agencies.

Yanukovich, who was last seen at his residence in Balaklava, Crimea, and later disappeared, urged Russia to ensure his personal security as he fears "radical actions" on part of "extremists that seized power in the country".

"I, Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovich, am addressing the people of Ukraine. I still believe myself to be the legitimate head of the Ukrainian state elected in a free vote by Ukrainian citizens," he said in a statement.

"I am forced to ask Russian authorities to provide my personal safety from actions of extremists that have taken power in Ukraine."