The SSU has documented subversive activities by the rector of a church in Shepetivka diocese of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Khmelnytskyi region. The cleric supported the aggressive war against Ukraine and incited religious hatred.

After the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, the priest held liturgies during which he praised putin and blamed Ukrainian authorities for the war.

The archpriest also spread russian fakes about the war in Ukraine and interfaith relations in our country on his Vkontakte page.

For example, he called russia’s armed aggression a ‘civil conflict’ and insulted parishioners of other religious communities.

In this way, he tried to undermine the socio-political situation in the region for the benefit of the aggressor state.

SSU-initiated examination confirmed the cleric’s criminal actions.

Based on the collected evidence, the perpetrator was served a notice of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 161.1 (violation of equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region, religious beliefs and other grounds);
• 436-2.1 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

The investigation is ongoing. The suspect faces up to 5 years in prison.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Khmelnytskyi Office jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.