UOC Clergyman from Kharkiv Region Sentenced to Five Years in Prison over Interview with Russian Media

The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kharkiv sentenced a clergyman of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from the Pervomaiskyi district of Kharkiv region, who, according to the investigation, was found guilty of publicly justifying Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. This was reported by the Ukrainian news tabloid Blik.

According to information from open sources, the case relates to events in 2022 when the accused was in the temporarily occupied city of Izium. At that time, he allegedly gave an interview to representatives of pro-Russian media, in which, as the investigation claims, he spoke favorably about the actions of Russian military forces, expressed negative views about Ukrainian servicemen, and stated that he sought help from clergy members in the Russian Federation.

Furthermore, according to the case materials, the clergyman reportedly said that “Ukrainians can only be saved through repentance.”

In court, the cleric stated that the interview was recorded under psychological pressure and threats from the occupiers, and that the published video material was edited. However, according to the court, these explanations were not sufficiently substantiated, and the verdict remained guilty.

As a result, the clergyman was sentenced to five years imprisonment without property confiscation.

Earlier, it was reported that the Security Service of Ukraine announced the “exposure” of three clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), accused of spreading pro-Russian views and “justifying Russia’s armed aggression.”