"They insulted Jews and praised Putin": SSU detains two UOC priests

The Security Service of Ukraine detained priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr regions. The clergymen are accused of “publicly supporting Russian leader Vladimir Putin, spreading anti-Semitic statements and calls for the occupation of Ukraine.” This was reported by the Ukrayinska Pravda publication.

It is reported that in the Zhytomyr region, Archpriest Vyacheslav Markevich, rector of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in the village of Velykyi Luh, Zhytomyr region, was detained for allegedly “supporting the Kremlin’s policy.” The investigation also found that the clergyman “repeatedly humiliated the honor and dignity of representatives of the Jewish people in his online posts.”

In addition, in Vinnytsia region, law enforcement officers detained a freelance cleric of the Vinnytsia Diocese of the UOC, Hieromonk Stanislav Makeev. According to the investigation, he allegedly “repeatedly called for the complete seizure of the territory of Ukraine by Russians in comments under pro-Kremlin messages.”

SSU officers seized cell phones and computer equipment with evidence of their crimes. The two priests were notified of suspicion of encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, violation of the equality of citizens and justification of Russia’s armed aggression.

Earlier, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, said that the agency was investigating the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church abroad. The official said that in this regard, the SSU is working closely with the special services of other states, and the EU has allegedly even imposed sanctions against the UOC.