“The SBU detained a cleric of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP), who was passing on data about the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kharkiv to Russia. The cleric transmitted data to the occupiers through a messenger with markings on Google maps.”, — write on: unn.ua
According to the SBU, on the order of the Russian Federation, the cleric leaked information about the Defense Forces in the region. In particular, he tried to establish the approximate number of personnel and available weapons at Ukrainian checkpoints near Kharkiv.
Also, the archpriest monitored the routes of the movement of military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the direction of the front line.
The cleric sent the received information to the aggressor via messenger in the form of marks on Google maps and their detailed description.
According to the available information, the occupiers planned to use this intelligence to prepare rocket-bomb attacks on the locations of the Defense Forces, which are involved in the defense of Kharkiv
According to the investigation, the 43-year-old archpriest began performing hostile tasks in October 2024. He was born in Melitopol and during 2009-2018 was in the territory of the Russian Federation.
Later, he came to Kharkiv, where he worked as an IT specialist of the diocesan administration of the UOC (MP) and was appointed abbot of the local church.
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During the search, a mobile phone with evidence of cooperation with the occupiers was seized from him. Russian rubles and Kremlin awards were also found in his possession.
The cleric was informed of the suspicion under ch. 2 Art. 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unauthorized dissemination of information about the movement, movement or location of the Armed Forces if it is possible to identify them on the ground).
He is currently in custody. He faces 8 years in prison.