The SSU, together with the National Police, have collected evidence against the rector of a church in Ovruch-Korosten diocese of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church who incited religious hatred.

According to the investigation, the priest massively disseminated pro-kremlin leaflets and brochures among priests and parishioners of the religious community in Zhytomyr oblast.

In the propaganda leaflets, their authors portrayed the war in Ukraine as an ‘internal civil conflict’ and denied russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

The printed materials offended religious feelings of Ukrainians, humiliated the views of believers of other faiths and created hostile attitudes towards them.

The investigation established that the cleric had handed out enemy propaganda ‘literature’ on the instructions of his metropolitan, whom the SSU has already served a notice of suspicion of crimes against Ukraine.

The SSU found the pro-russian propaganda materials during security measures in the spring of 2022 and searches in the local UOC-MP diocese in June this year.

The examinations confirmed that the seized items contained provocative statements about priests, believers and supporters of other faiths.

The content of some leaflets popularized the kremlin’s ‘view’ of the history of Ukrainian statehood.

Based on the evidence collected, the rector of the church was served a notice of suspicion under Article 28.2 and 161.2 of the CCU (intentional actions aimed at inciting national and religious hatred, humiliation of national honour, dignity, insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs, committed by an official and by prior conspiracy).

The investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Zhytomyr region is working on the case jointly with the National Police under the supervision of Zhytomyr Region Prosecutor’s Office.

We reiterate 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.