The SSU has collected evidence of high treason by Oleksiy, the former rector of a cathedral in Kherson diocese of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who is hiding on the left bank of the region.

After Kherson’s occupation, he supported the invaders and joined the inner circle of gauleiter Saldo, becoming his confessor.

According to the investigation, the archimandrite regularly invited him to worship in the church. During sermons, he blessed russia’s sham referendum on the ‘accession’ of Kherson region to the aggressor state.

The cleric appealed to moscow patriarch Kirill with a request to include the local cathedral in the russian orthodox church parish.

In return for the defection, the occupiers handed over to his cathedral the seized territories of Ukrtelecom and local businessmen in downtown Kherson.

On 30 September 2022, the traitor was invited to the kremlin to participate in the ‘ceremony of inclusion’ of the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine to russia.

During Kherson’s liberation, the priest fled, together with the russian invaders, to region’s left-bank.

There, he became the secretary of the so-called Skadovsk diocese of the russian orthodox church.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators have notified the clergyman of suspicion in absentia under two Articles of the CCU:

• 111.2 (high treason);
• 111-2.1 (aiding the aggressor state).

The efforts are underway to bring the perpetrator to justice.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Offices in Chernivtsi and Kherson regions under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.