The SSU is carrying out counterintelligence (security) measures at the facilities of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi, Rivne, Volyn, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Lviv, Zhytomyr and Kherson regions.

The measures are held at the following locations:

• Holy Exaltation Cathedral (Uzhhorod);
• Holy Protection Church (Uzhhorod);
• St. John the Theologian Khreshchatyk Monastery (Chernivtsi district);
• Holy Assumption Monastery (Chernivtsi district);
• Holy Assumption Monastery (Rivne district);
• Iberian Icon of the Mother of God Convent (Yusefin tract, Sarny district);
• Sviatohirskyi Assumption stauropegic Convent (Zymne village, Volodymyr district);
• Monastery of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen (Kostiantynivka village, Mykolaiv district);
• Holy Spirit Cathedral (Romny);
• St. Stephen’s Archdeacon Church (Romny);
• Holy Trinity Church (Lviv);
• Church of St. Amphilochius of Pochayiv (Mostyska);
• Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin (Boryslav);
• Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ (Korosten);
• Holy Transfiguration Cathedral (Ovruch);
• Ovruch-Korosten diocese (Ovruch);
• St. Basil’s Cathedral (Ovruch);
• St. Basil’s Convent (Ovruch);
• Our Lady of Kazan Church (Chornobaivka).

The measures are conducted jointly with the National Police and the National Guard as part of the SSU’s systemic efforts to counter subversive activities of russian special services in Ukraine.

Given russia’s armed aggression, these actions are taken, among other things, to prevent the use of religious communities as centers of the ‘russian world’ and to protect population from provocations and terrorist attacks.

With the direct participation of church representatives, law enforcement officers are inspecting the territory and premises (including hotel-type) to identify persons who may be involved in unlawful activities to the detriment of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and items prohibited for circulation.

All actions are carried out in accordance with the law.

We emphasize once again: the SSU acts exclusively within the Constitution of Ukraine and current legislation and respects the right of every citizen to freedom of religion and worldview.