The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported the results of “counterintelligence activities” in the church environment for 2022. This was reported on the social networks of the service.
It is noted that over the past year the SBU has organized more than 40 “events” in the church setting of the UOC.
“As a result of the measures, 61 criminal cases were opened against 61 clergy. In total, courts have already given 7 sentences against individual clergy,” the report says.
Sanctions were imposed on 17 employees of the UOC, 250 clergy were banned from entering Ukraine. Ukrainian citizenship of 19 UOC clergy was revoked.
In December 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). According to the document, religious organizations “affiliated to centers of influence in the Russian Federation” will be banned in Ukraine.
April 1 Kyiv court appointed Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), deputy of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, preventive measure in the form of house arrest for two months and a ban on appealing to believers.