The Security Service and the National Police have gathered evidence of subversive activities against the former Metropolitan of Izium and Kupiansk Diocese of the UOC-MP, Yelisey Ivanov, who is hiding in Russia.
This was reported by the SBU press service.
After the seizure of part of the territory of the Kharkiv region at the beginning of the full-scale war, the cleric was one of the first to publicly support the occupiers and bless them for the war against Ukraine.
According to the case materials, in his sermons, the defendant imposed his personal pro-Kremlin views on parishioners and convinced them to support the 'ruscists'.
In addition, he organized meetings of the diocesan clergy, where he urged other parishioners to promote Moscow's narratives during church liturgies.
However, after a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region in September 2022, Ivanov fled with the Russian occupiers to the aggressor country.
There, the defendant regularly visits the residence of Moscow Patriarch Kirill and participates in his ceremonies.
The forensic linguistic examination initiated by the SBU confirmed the facts of information and subversive activities of Metropolitan Ivanov of the UOC-MP in the interests of the Kremlin.
Based on the collected evidence, law enforcement officers served him a notice of suspicion in absentia under Part 1 Art. 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).
As the offender is hiding in the territory of Russia, comprehensive measures are being taken to bring him to justice.