The priest of the UOC-MP was detained for organizing illegal border crossing.

According to ТСН: In Bukovyna, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and his accomplice are accused of organizing the illegal transportation of evaders across the border.

According to the investigation, the clergyman decided to profit from the scheme of illegal departure of men, seeking clients among his parishioners and their acquaintances. During a phone conversation, he mentioned the possibility of transporting people without legal grounds for crossing the border to Romania.

It was about two men from Ternopil, for whom the 'service fee' was agreed upon — 13 thousand euros each. The money was supposed to be transferred in cash in one payment.

Detention of the offenders

To organize the transportation of the men to the Chernivtsi region, the accused involved a 42-year-old resident of the village of Bancheny, Chernivtsi district, who was responsible for delivering the men to the designated place.

However, the plan could not be realized — in October 2025, law enforcement detained both during the transfer of money in Chernivtsi.

Court charges

Prosecutors have submitted an indictment to the court regarding the priest of the UOC-MP and his accomplice. They are charged with organizing the illegal transportation of men across the state border of Ukraine (part 3 of article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). They face imprisonment for a term of three to five years.

The Office of the Prosecutor General emphasizes that this case is part of the criminal proceedings of 2025 related to individuals connected to the UOC (MP).

It was previously reported that a priest of the UOC-MP corrected the strikes of the occupants in Sumy region on behalf of the Russian intelligence.

This incident highlights the serious problem of illegal departure of individuals from Ukraine, as such actions are classified as a crime. The authorities continue to combat such schemes to prevent abuses and protect the safety of citizens. They are monitoring the situation, especially in the context of the new proceedings related to the activities of the UOC (MP).