The SSU has documented new criminal offenses committed by a Metropolitan of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) monastery in the frontline territory of Donetsk region. According to the investigation, the Metropolitan publicly denied russian crimes and spread fakes about Ukrainian defenders.

It has been established that during a service in the spring of 2022, the cleric publicly rejected that russian forces were responsible for the heavy shelling that damaged several local churches and injured their residents.

Moreover, the suspect justified the armed aggression of the russian federation and disseminated disinformation about Ukrainian defenders engaged in hostilities with the ruscists on the Eastern front.

Based on the collected evidence, SSU investigators have notified the traitor of suspicion under Article 436-2.1, 436-2.3 of the CCU (justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

The suspect is in custody facing up to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property. The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime.

The SSU had previously exposed the cleric for the unauthorized dissemination of information concerning the AFU movement and location. The relevant pre-trial investigation has been concluded, and the case materials have been sent to the court.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Donetsk and Luhansk regions under the procedural supervision of the Donetsk Region Prosecutor’s Office.