In Kherson region, the SSU together with the National Police has detained a rector of a temple belonging to moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The cleric was clandestinely selling weapons and ammunition left after the ruscists fled from Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

The SSU documented the cleric keeping enemy arsenals in 2 caches. One of them was on the territory of a construction site of a new UOC-MP church in Kherson.

The SSU apprehended him ‘red-handed’, having documented in stages an attempt to sell two Igla man-portable air defence systems with components.

In addition to the MANPADS, the priest ‘offered’ ammunition for RPG-7 hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, asking UAH 115,000 (USD 3,000) for them.

The suspect was looking for clients using his connections, including among criminals.

The weapon’s transfer to the criminal environment could have aggravated the situation in Kherson, e.g. through attempts of provocations by russian intelligence services.

During the inspection of a cache on construction site for a new church, the law enforcement seized five projectiles and two powder charges for grenade launchers.

The second cache was set up in the basement of a nine-storey building. There, the priest kept:

• a machine gun and a Kalashnikov rifle with components;
• three F-1 combat grenades;
• almost 7,000 rounds of ammunition for automatic weapons, including large-calibre ones.

The UOC-MP clergyman has been served a notice of suspicion under Article 263.1 of the CCU (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives). The court chose custody as measure of restraint for the suspect, who is facing up to 7 years in prison.

The investigation is ongoing.  

The seized weapons and ammunition have been sent for examination and will be handed over to the AFU.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kherson region and the National Police under the procedural supervision of Kherson Region and District Prosecutor’s Offices.