The head of the Security Service of Ukraine reported on the number of criminal cases against clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, spoke about the number of criminal proceedings initiated by the agency against clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Malyuk claims that since 2022, 31 verdicts have been handed down for “treason” and “inciting hatred.” The official made this statement on the TV channel ‘We Are Ukraine’.

“If I am not mistaken, there are more than 170 cases… More than 100 suspects and 31 convictions as of a week ago. Although there are already more suspects, because another one was detained in Zaporizhzhia… But it must be understood that not all of them are traitors to the state. There are also cases of incitement of interethnic and interreligious hatred. It should also be understood that we are definitely not fighting the church. I myself am a believer. And if a person sincerely believes in God, there is nothing wrong with that,” – Malyuk said.

It should be noted that the day before, the Security Service of Ukraine reported the detention of two priests of the Odessa diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The SBU called the clergymen “Kremlin agitators,” accusing them of “spreading hostile propaganda” and “justifying Russia’s war in Ukraine.” The priests face up to eight years in prison.