The Security Service of Ukraine has initiated 180 cases against priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC-MP) since the beginning of the full-scale war, including 23 bishops.
Criminal investigations are underway concerning the illegal activities of UOC MP priests. This topic is explored in the article titled “The Devil in Disguise: How UOC Priests Cooperate with Russian Special Services and Justify the War.”
Proceedings have been initiated under various charges, including treason, justifying Russian aggression against Ukraine, corruption of minors, and the illegal transportation of individuals across the border. We are also publishing statistics on the criminal cases that have been opened regarding the cooperation of priests with Russia.
Ukrainian courts have found 38 clergymen of the UOC MP guilty of committing crimes.
As reported previously, experts from the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) have found evidence suggesting an affiliation between the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC-MP and the Russian Orthodox Church. They have mandated that the organization sever all ties with the ROC by August 18, 2025. However, the Kyiv Metropolia has refused to comply with the DESS's order, claiming that the points in the document are fictitious and do not pertain to the UOC-MP. In response, experts from the DESS have filed a lawsuit to request the termination of state registration for the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC-MP.