During the period of the full-scale war of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, criminal proceedings were opened against more than 100 priests, most of them — representatives of the UOC MP.
This was reported to RBC-Ukraine by the Security Service of Ukraine.
Criminal proceedings have been opened against more than 100 priests: what is known
Among the more than 100 clergymen against whom criminal proceedings were opened: 50 – received suspicions; 25 – court sentences.
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According to the SBU, it mainly concerns representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP).
Among the list of crimes that the priests are accused of:
- collaboration;
- high treason;
- assistance to an aggressor country;
- propaganda of totalitarian regimes;
- acquittal aggression;
- assistance in illegal transfer abroad, etc.
The Security Service of Ukraine explained that the existing criminal proceedings have nothing to do with pressure on the church environment, but are a manifestation of the SBU's systematic counteraction to the harmful influence of Russian special services and their agents on the situation in Ukraine.
The SBU noted that the consent of individual priests of the UOC MP to exchange after conviction and sentences in Ukraine is one of the evidences of their close cooperation with Russia. At the same time, such exchanges demonstrate the value of such personnel for the Russian Federation.
