SSU Claims UOC Priest Involved in Russian Intelligence Network in Zaporizhzhia

An agent network of Russian military intelligence, allegedly coordinated by a UOC priest, was exposed in Zaporizhzhia. According to the SSU, the rector of a local church was looking for pro-Russian parishioners and “recruiting them to participate in activities in favor of Russia.” The SSU claims that during his sermons, the cleric allegedly “justified Russia’s aggression and war crimes” and then “began to form an agent apparatus.” This is reported by the agency’s website.

According to the investigation, the priest allegedly organized the recruitment of a mobilized Ukrainian soldier who passed on information about the location, number and weapons of Ukrainian units. According to the SSU, this information included photocopies of documents and details of the deployment of new formations on the front line. The SSU assures that the rector’s actions were allegedly coordinated with a resident of Russian intelligence, who had previously worked in Ukrainian law enforcement and fled to the occupied territory.

During the searches of the detainees, according to the investigation, they found phones and computer equipment that allegedly contained evidence of their activities. According to the SSU, the priest also had a Russian passport, ammunition and cold steel.

The SSU investigators served both detainees a notice of suspicion under five articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

ч. 2 Art. 111 (high treason committed under martial law);

Art. 1, 2 Art. 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine);

Art. 109, paras. 2, 3, Art. 109 (actions aimed at the violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or the seizure of state power);

Art. 1, 3, Art. 436-2 (justification, recognition of the legitimacy, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants);

ч. 1, Art. 161 (violation of equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region and religious beliefs).

As a reminder, the Security Service of Ukraine reported the detention of two priests of the Odesa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The SSU called the priests “Kremlin agitators” and accused them of “spreading hostile propaganda” and “justifying Russia’s war in Ukraine.” The priests face 8 years in prison.