The SSU and the National Police have collected evidence of subversive activities by the former metropolitan of Izium and Kupiansk diocese of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Oleh Ivanov (Yelisey), who is hiding in russia.

After the seizure of part of Kharkiv region at the beginning of the full-scale war, the cleric was one of the first to publicly support the occupiers and bless them for the war against Ukraine.

The priest imposed his personal pro-kremlin views on his parishioners in his sermons and was trying to convince them to support the ruscists.

He also organized meetings of the diocesan clergy, where he urged other parishioners to promote moscow’s narratives during church liturgies.

However, after Ukraine’s counter-offensive in Kharkiv region in September 2022, Ivanov fled with the russian occupiers to the aggressor state.

There, the cleric regularly visits the residence of moscow patriarch Kirill and participates in his ceremonies.

The SSU-initiated forensic linguistic examination confirmed the facts of Ivanov’s information and subversive activities in kremlin’s interests.

Based on the evidence, the investigators served him a notice of suspicion in absentia under Article 436-2.1 of the CCU (justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

As the suspect is hiding in russia, efforts are underway to bring him to prosecution.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kharkiv region jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of Kupiansk District Prosecutor’s Office.