The Security Service has gathered evidence against the former rector of one of the churches in the UOC-MP Diocese of Izyum, who supported the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.
This was reported on the SBU website.
During the temporary occupation of a portion of the Kharkiv region, the archpriest organized a staged church procession to commemorate the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus, attempting to involve local residents. According to the SBU counterintelligence service, during the "event," he blessed the Russian invaders and consecrated their columns of military equipment in the Kupyansk district.
He ordered his henchmen to record the entire "trial" on camera for further publication on Kremlin media resources, trying to imitate the "support" of the invaders from local believers.
During the liberation of the Kharkiv region, the perpetrator and his family fled to Russian territory. He was subsequently appointed rector of the St. John the Baptist Church of the Tver and Kashin dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church.
As a result, the SBU investigators have launched criminal proceedings under Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, for justifying, recognizing the legitimacy of, denying armed aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and glorifying its participants.
Investigative and operational actions are ongoing to determine all the details of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Security Service is leading the investigation, with the procedural guidance of the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office.