The Security Service of Ukraine has completed a pre-trial investigation into members of a criminal organization that conducted information sabotage against Ukraine on the order of the FSB. Among the defendants is the head of the Kyiv church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of moscow patriarchate, who was a member of the russian special service's intelligence apparatus.

According to the investigation, the cleric coordinated three accomplices - so-called “political experts” who, while in Kyiv, massively spread kremlin narratives. In their materials, they justified russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and incited interfaith hatred in our country.

As a reminder, in March 2024, the SSU detained all four defendants.

Currently, the indictments against the detainees have been sent to the court. The offenders face life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

According to the investigation, the defendants were part of one of the largest FSB agent networks operating in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Thanks to the SSU's prompt response, the enemy element was neutralized at the beginning of its subversive activities against Ukraine.

A special pre-trial investigation is ongoing in relation to more than 10 other members of the russian intelligence service, as they are hiding abroad.

It has been established that the accused cleric personally supervised the distribution of anti-Ukrainian content through controlled channels on Telegram and YouTube, Facebook pages and official websites of various eparchies of the UOC-MP.

Just after the publication of the paid-for materials, they were immediately “picked up” by central TV channels and online publications of the russian federation, which spread fakes about our country.

In this way, the racists hoped to discredit Ukraine on the international stage, especially in the eyes of our western partners.

Based on the evidence collected, the detained persons are charged under the following Articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• 111.2 (high treason committed under martial law);
• 111-1.6 (collaboration);
• 28.4, 255.1, 255.2 (creation and participation in a criminal organization);
• 28.4, 161.3 (incitement to religious hatred and enmity committed by an organized group);
• 28.4, 436-2.2, 436-2.3 (justification, recognition of the legitimacy, denial of the armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine).

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv region Prosecutor's Office.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt is proved by law and established by a court verdict of guilty.