The SSU has collected evidence against a former rector of a church in Izium diocese of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who supported russia’s armed aggression.

During the temporary occupation of a part of Kharkiv region, the archpriest organized a staged church procession on the Baptism of Kyivan Rus Day, in which he tried to involve locals.

According to the SSU Counterintelligence, during the ‘event’ he blessed russian occupiers and consecrated their convoys of military equipment in Kupiansk district.

He ordered his henchmen to record the entire ‘process’ on camera for further publication on kremlin’s media resources.

In this way, the enemy tried to imitate ‘support’ of the invaders by the local believers.

During the liberation of Kharkiv oblast, the traitor fled to russia with his family. There, he was appointed rector of the Orthodox parish of St. John the Baptist Church of Tver and Kashyn diocese of the russian orthodox church.

The SSU initiated a criminal proceeding over these facts under Article 436-2 of the CCU (justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

Investigative and operational activities are ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the offence and bring the involved to justice.

The SSU is conducting the investigation under the procedural supervision of Kharkiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.