SBU detains UOC-MP cleric who spied on Kharkiv defenders

This was reported by the SBU press service.

According to the case file, the defendant leaked information about the Defense Forces in the region at the request of the Russian Federation. In particular, he tried to establish the approximate number of personnel and available weapons at Ukrainian checkpoints near Kharkiv.

The archpriest also tracked the routes of movement of Ukrainian military equipment towards the front line.

The cleric sent the information he received via messenger to the aggressor in the form of marks on Google Maps and their detailed descriptions.

According to available information, the occupants planned to use this intelligence to prepare missile and bomb attacks on the locations of the Defense Forces involved in the defense of Kharkiv.

The SBU acted proactively and prevented enemy attacks by timely exposing the Russian informant, documenting his crimes and detaining him.

According to the investigation, the archpriest began performing hostile tasks in October 2024. He was born in Melitopol and was in the territory of the Russian Federation during 2009-2018.

Later he came to Kharkiv, where he worked as an IT specialist at the diocesan administration of the UOC-MP and was appointed rector of a local church.

During the searches, a cell phone with evidence of cooperation with the occupiers was seized from the detainee. The SBU also found Russian rubles and Kremlin awards on his person.

The SBU investigators served the suspect a notice of suspicion under Part 2 Art. 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized dissemination of information on the movement, movement or location of the Armed Forces of Ukraine if they can be identified on the ground).

The offender is in custody. He faces 8 years in prison.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in the Kharkiv region under the procedural supervision of the Regional Prosecutor's Office.