A case has been opened against the priest of the UOC for state treason

In the Kharkiv region, the rector of one of the churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is accused of allegedly spreading information about the location of Ukrainian military forces. According to the investigation, the actions of the clergyman could have led to targeted strikes on the city’s defense forces. This was reported by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

According to official data, the 44-year-old priest has already been charged under part 2 of Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — unauthorized dissemination of information about the placement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces under martial law. The case materials have been sent to court.

According to law enforcement, the priest was born in Melitopol but had been serving in Kharkiv for a long time, where he also worked as an IT specialist in the diocesan administration. The investigation suggests that the priest allegedly transmitted to the enemy markers on maps and detailed descriptions of Ukrainian military positions in Kharkiv and nearby settlements through digital communication channels, including messengers.

The official statement of the prosecutor’s office noted that the information transmitted could have been used by the Russian side for missile and air strikes on the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Currently, the clergyman is in custody awaiting trial. His case will be considered by the Kharkiv District Court. If found guilty, he faces from five to eight years of imprisonment.

Earlier, we reported that the Mukachevo City Court of the Zakarpattia region tried a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Vasyl Yuryn, for critical comments on Facebook about the OCU. According to the investigation, the priest “offended the leadership and believers of the OCU.”