The Security Service of Ukraine exposed two priests of the Moscow church who praised Putin.

The Security Service reported that two priests of the Moscow church, serving in the Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia regions, were charged. The SBU press service stated that the clerics expressed public support for Vladimir Putin, called for the seizure of Ukraine, and spread anti-Semitic statements. They also disseminated hostile propaganda among parishioners.

One of the clerics, a priest from the Zhytomyr region, has been charged. In his social media, he belittled representatives of the Jewish people. Another cleric, a hieromonk from the Vinnytsia region, has also become a figure in the case.

Forensic examination confirmed the facts of criminal activity by representatives of the UOC MP. During searches, mobile phones and computers with evidence of illegal activities were confiscated.

The SBU investigators informed the clerics of their suspicion under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Art. 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine);
• Art. 161 (violation of the equality of citizens depending on their racial, national, regional affiliation, religious beliefs);
• Art. 436-2 (justification, recognition of the legitimacy, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

For these crimes, the offenders face up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

It should be noted that the Russian Orthodox Church released a calendar for 2025, featuring Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Onufriy, and all Ukrainian archbishops of the UOC MP.

The Security Service also detained two Russian agents - a psychotherapist and a deacon of the Moscow church, who were spying in Kharkiv.