The SSU has collected substantiated evidence of the involvement of the former abbot of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Pavlo (Petro Lebid) in inciting religious hatred, justifying and denying russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

In particular, it was found that Lebed in his public speeches had repeatedly insulted religious feelings of Ukrainians, humiliated the views of believers of other faiths and tried to create hostile attitudes towards them, made statements justifying or denying the aggressor state’s actions. This was confirmed by a forensic linguistic examination initiated by the SSU.

‘The law and responsibility for its violation are the same for everyone, and the cassock is not always a guarantee of pure intentions. Today, the enemy is trying to use the church environment to promote its propaganda and split Ukrainian society. But we will not give them a single chance! The SSU systemically blocks all attempts by russian special services to use their agents to harm Ukraine’s interests and security,’ the SSU Head Vasyl Maliuk commented.

Based on the evidence collected, Lebid was served a notice of suspicion under Articles 161.1 of the CCU (violation of equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region, religious beliefs) and 436-2.1 (justification, denial of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

Investigative actions are currently under way at the suspect’s home and place of temporary stay.

The SSU exposed the offences under the supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

In 2022, the SSU launched comprehensive counterintelligence and security measures (over 40 activities) in the church environment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP) in an effort to stop destructive activities of pro-russian clergy. As a result of these activities, 61 criminal proceedings were initiated against 61 clergymen. In total, the courts have already passed 7 sentences against individual clerics who sided with the enemy, including 2 who were exchanged for our defenders to liberate them from captivity.

Based on the SSU’s materials, sanctions were imposed against 17 UOC officials, and almost 250 clerics of the russian Orthodox Church were banned from entering Ukraine.

The citizenship of Ukraine was terminated for 19 UOC clergymen who are also citizens of the aggressor state. 2 clerics, also russian citizens, were forced return to their country of origin.

We emphasize that in its activities, the SSU adheres to the principle of impartiality to any religious denomination and respects the right of every citizen to freedom of worldview and religion, as defined by the Constitution of Ukraine.