The SBU has notified another Russian Orthodox Church hierarch in absentia that he is a suspect in the case involving the "financing of Russian troops"

The Security Service of Ukraine has gathered evidence and formally notified Metropolitan Mark, head of the Vyatka and Slobodskaya Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church, of the charges against him in absentia. According to the investigation, he is involved in financing and providing material support to Russian occupation forces participating in the war against Ukraine.

As reported by the SBU press service, the suspect is a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church who is also a member of the Russian motorcycle club “Night Wolves.” This club is known for supporting the Kremlin’s aggressive policies and has been included on the sanctions lists of several countries.

According to Ukrainian law enforcement officials, after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Metropolitan Mark publicly supported the armed aggression against Ukraine and organized the collection of funds, humanitarian aid, and material resources for the needs of the Russian military.

The SBU states that it has documented the regular transfer of off-road vehicles, generators, medications, non-perishable food, and other military-grade equipment to the occupying forces. According to investigators, these deliveries were carried out at the suspect’s initiative and with his direct involvement.

It has also been established that Metropolitan Mark personally visited the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. These trips, it is noted, were systematically reported by the official resources of the metropolis and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Based on the evidence gathered, SBU investigators notified Metropolitan Mark in absentia of his status as a suspect under Parts 2 and 3 of Article 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This article provides for liability for financing actions committed with the aim of forcibly changing or overthrowing the constitutional order, seizing state power, and altering the territorial boundaries or state border of Ukraine.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Security Service of Ukraine had notified a Russian citizen, Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk, of the charges against him. The bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church is accused of“justifying the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine and using his position to spread hostile propaganda.”