SSU reports detention of UOC priest in Kharkiv region

The Security Service of Ukraine reported the detention of a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kharkiv region. According to the agency, the priest allegedly “tried to establish the approximate number of personnel and weapons available at Ukrainian checkpoints near Kharkiv.” The priest faces 8 years in prison. This is reported on the SSU Facebook page.

“According to the case file, at the request of the Russian Federation, the defendant leaked information about the Defense Forces in the region. In particular, he tried to establish the approximate number of personnel and available weapons at Ukrainian checkpoints near Kharkiv. The archpriest also monitored the routes of movement of Ukrainian military equipment towards the front line. The cleric sent the information he received to the aggressor via messenger in the form of marks on Google maps and their detailed descriptions. According to available information, the occupiers planned to use this intelligence to prepare missile and bomb attacks on the locations of the Defense Forces involved in the defense of Kharkiv,” – the agency reports.

Earlier, we reported that the Security Service of Ukraine in Zhytomyr region served a notice of suspicion to a priest of the Korosten-Ovruch Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to the investigation, the priest preached sermons in which he allegedly justified Russia’s attack on Ukraine and urged people not to respond to the slogan “Glory to Ukraine.”