Security Service of Ukraine conducts searches in Moscow-linked Ukrainian churches in Kharkiv
Searches have begun in churches belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate [UOC-MP] in Kharkiv Oblast and the city of Kharkiv itself on the morning of 10 December.
Source: Suspilne public broadcaster; Security Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv Oblast
Details: Eyewitnesses told Suspilne.Kharkiv that people bearing the insignia of the Security Service of Ukraine [SSU] have been working on the territory of these churches.
Law enforcement officers were spotted, in particular, at the Monastery of the Holy Intercession in the centre of Kharkiv.
Searches have taken place in particular at the following church premises in the Kharkiv Diocese:
- Monastery of the Holy Intercession
- Cathedral of the Holy Annunciation
- Church of the Icon of Kazan
- Church of the "In Search of the Lost" icon
- Church of the Holy Dormition
- Church of St Peter and St Paul
- Church of St Nicholas
- Church of St Valentine
- Church of St Olha
- Church of Queen Tamara
- Church of the Holy Archangel Michael
- Church of George the Victorious
- Church of St Volodymyr
- Cathedral of the Holy Ascension of the Izium Diocese of the UOC-MP.
Quote from the SSU: "The measures are being taken jointly with the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service as part of the Security Service’s systematic efforts to counter subversive activities of Russian special forces in Ukraine.
Given the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, these measures are being taken to prevent religious communities from being used as a centre of the so-called ‘Russian World’ and to protect the population from provocations and terrorist attacks.
With the direct participation of representatives of the church, law enforcement officers are conducting an inspection of the territory and premises to identify persons who may be involved in illegal activities to the detriment of the state sovereignty of Ukraine and items that are prohibited from circulation."
Background:
- On 1 December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) had instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to propose that the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) institute a ban on the UOC-MP, and also initiated a review of the legality of the UOC-MP’s presence at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves).
- In recent weeks, the SSU conducted a number of searches in UOC MP churches. In particular, the searches were carried out in Zhytomyr, Rivne, Zakarpattia, Kyiv, Kherson and other Oblasts.
- On 9 December, the SSU found suspicious persons, unregistered weapons and Russian propaganda in premises belonging to the UOC-MP in Kyiv and Kherson oblasts.
Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
