Ukrainian security service accuses Orthodox cleric of supporting Russia

Ukraine’s SBU security services accused a senior Orthodox Christian cleric on Friday (9 December) of engaging in anti-Ukrainian activity through supporting Russian policies via social media posts.

This announcement came after a string of raids on property owned by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is historically linked to Russia and has been under increasing pressure ever since Russia invade.

SBU stated that an archbishop of a diocese in west Ukraine had distributed posters that "humiliated national honour and dignity and incited to religious hatred and enmity".

The cleric was accused of spreading "narratives about Russian propagandists" via a Facebook profile. It didn't provide any further information.

Moscow has been supported by the Orthodox Church of Russia, and Kyiv suggests that some clergy in Ukraine may be receiving orders from Moscow.

Officials from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church did not respond immediately to inquiries for comment.

Later, the SBU stated that 16 "suspicious persons" were discovered on the grounds of an Orthodox Church monastery located near the Chornobyl nuclear plant. This area is closed to civilians.

It said that they would be charged for being in a prohibited zone, and that a probe was underway to determine if they had violated state security laws.

Last week, a spokesperson for the church stated that it has always acted within Ukrainian law and that there was no legal basis to pressure its followers.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, described Kyiv's authorities as "satanists", "enemies" of Christ and Orthodox faith last week.

The majority of Ukraine's inhabitants are Orthodox Christians. Tensions between the Moscow-subordinated and independent Ukrainian churches have been high since the fall of Soviet rule.

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