The Security Service (SBU) has completed counterintelligence (security) measures at the facilities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of Moscow Patriarchate (MP) located in Kherson, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr and Volyn regions, the SBU reports on Telegram.
It was established that during Kherson's occupation the local archimandrite - rector of the Dormition Cathedral was present in the Kremlin hall during the announcement of the annexation of four Ukrainian regions.
A few days before the liberation of the city, the priest, accompanied by Russian invaders, fled to the temporarily occupied areas of southern Ukraine.
"On the territory of the cathedral, SBU officers found a collection of icons stolen by Russians from the Honorary Consul of the Lithuanian Republic's house during the occupation of Kherson," the SBU said.
As a result of further inspection of the church premises, passes issued in the name of the "federal advisor of the civil-military administration of the Russian Federation" and Russian passports of local priests were also found. It is worth mentioning that they received them this year, during the occupation of Kherson by Russians.
The criminal proceeding was initiated under Part 2 Art. 111 (high treason committed under martial law) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
In addition, a flag of the so-called "Novorossiya" and a library with propaganda literature by Russian authors were found in the Krasnohirsk Holy Protection Convent in Cherkasy Region.
And on the territory of the monastery of the Ovruch-Korosten diocese and the Skete in Zhytomyr Region, former criminals who keep in touch with Russian subscribers were exposed. These contacts are currently being checked by the SBU.
In another monastery in Zhytomyr Region, a person who has been on the nationwide wanted list as missing since 2020 was found. Also in the monastery, "titushky" were found who could not explain who they were and what they were doing there.
During the inspection of the premises of St. Mykolay Myltsi Monastery, the texts of prayers for the aggressor country and Russian "textbooks" praising the Kremlin regime were found.