The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has said it has collected evidence implicating a parish priest in the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in anti-Ukrainian activities.
"He publicly justified the armed aggression of Russia and denied the war crimes of Russian invaders against Ukrainians. In his 'speeches' to the faithful, the priest called the facts of numerous murders and torture of people by the ruscists in Bucha a production'," the SBU said.
It is noted that he also called on the parish not to trust the official information of Ukrainian government institutions and the media about Russian war crimes. On the contrary, he insisted that they should listen to him only because he was allegedly in Kyiv Region during the temporary occupation of part of the region.
The priest was served a notice of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).
The pre-trial investigation is completed. The indictment was sent to court.