The Security Service completed counterintelligence (security) measures at the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (Moscow Patriarchate) facilities in the Kherson, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Rivne regions.
Libraries with pro-Kremlin literature, campaign leaflets of political parties banned in Ukraine, and Russian symbols were found on the territory of the churches.
As a result of investigative and operative actions, the secretary of the Kirovohrad Diocese was notified of the suspicion under Part 1 of Art. 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the equality of citizens depending on their racial, national, regional affiliation, and religious beliefs).
In addition, on the territory of the Church of St. Righteous John of Kronstadt in the Kherson region, former warehouses with the property of the occupation groups of the Russian Federation were discovered.
It was established that the invaders arranged them with the assistance of the head of the church Archpriest Anatoly Kornev. He established contact with the leadership of the occupation administration and was in direct contact with representatives of the FSB.
During the liberation of Kherson, the cleric fled with his Russian "curators" to the left bank of the Dnieper.
As a result of searches in the premises of the Holy Trinity Mezhirytsky Monastery in the Rivne Region, propaganda materials of a public association headed by Viktor Medvedchuk, suspected of high treason, were discovered.
And in the Dnipropetrovsk region, SSU employees prevented an attempt to remove pro-Kremlin literature from the local diocese. When leaving the church's territory, law enforcement officers stopped a car. They seized a copy of the brochures of the banned party "Opposition Platform – For Life" and other anti-Ukrainian materials.
Currently, all discovered evidence has been sent for examination. After that, other procedural actions will be taken to bring the culprits to justice.
We emphasize that in its activities, the SSU adheres to the principle of impartiality towards the activities of any religious denomination and respects the right of every citizen to freedom of worldview and religion, as defined by the Constitution of Ukraine.
Security measures were carried out by SSU employees of Kherson, Kirovohrad, Rivne, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
