The security service documented the criminal activities of a clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, aimed at providing material assistance to the Russian Federation troops and ideological support for the war against our state.

The investigation established that since 2022, the protodeacon of the ROC has been regularly engaged in the collection and delivery of military equipment to the invaders' units fighting in eastern Ukraine.

He repeatedly visited the deployment points and forward positions of the occupiers in the Luhansk region to deliver aid collected through the Moscow Patriarchate Church.

In particular, during a trip to the occupied Svatyiv district, the defendant handed over a batch of military equipment to the servicemen of the "27th Sevastopol Brigade" of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: anti-drone rifles, communication equipment, quadcopters, uniform sets, camouflage nets, sleeping bags, and walkie-talkie batteries. The priest brought digital walkie-talkies, antennas, and other "humanitarian aid" to the occupiers from the 20th Army of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, stationed in Siverskodonetsk.

To raise the fighting spirit of the invaders on the front lines, the cleric organizes performances for them by an Orthodox male choir, which he directs himself.

The cleric actively promotes his activities on the Internet and social networks. His media activity is aimed at justifying Russian war crimes and propagandizing the so-called "svo" as a "holy war."

According to available information, the cleric has signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and is currently serving in the “Cossack Brigade” as “assistant commander for work with believers.” In addition, he is the head of a Russian “charity fund” created to support the aggressor’s military groups.

Based on the collected evidence, the SBU informed the defendant of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (financing of actions committed with the aim of violently changing or overthrowing the constitutional order or seizing state power, changing the boundaries of the territory or state border of Ukraine).

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by employees of the Main Directorate of the SBU in Donetsk and Luhansk regions under the procedural guidance of the Luhansk Regional Prosecutor's Office.