April 22, 2025, 5:34 p.m.
(Photo: Office of the Prosecutor General)
The Security Service of Ukraine has served notice of suspicion to 14 high-ranking metropolitans of the Russian Orthodox Church who facilitated the Kremlin's occupation of Ukraine, particularly in the Kherson region and Crimea.
This was reported by the SBU press center.
According to the investigation, in 2022-2024, these hierarchs were members of the so-called "Holy Synod" of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is fully controlled by the Russian authorities. Under the leadership of Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev ), they were actively involved in the seizure of church property in the temporarily occupied territories, including Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Donetsk regions and Crimea.
The investigation paid particular attention to the actions of the metropolitans who were behind the forced "transfer" of the Kherson and Dzhankoy dioceses to the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church. After that, Moscow-controlled bishops were appointed to the seized structures. They publicly justified Russia's aggression, blessed the Russian military and promoted Kremlin propaganda.
Based on the evidence gathered, all 14 defendants were notified in absentia of suspicion of aiding and abetting in changing the state border of Ukraine (Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Their actions have already led to serious consequences, including attempts to legitimize the occupation of Ukrainian territories through church structures.
Measures are currently being taken to bring the perpetrators to justice for crimes against the state integrity of Ukraine.
Among the suspects are metropolitans and archbishops from different regions of the Russian Federation, including:
Ірина Глухова