Security Forces Discover Pro-Russian Literature, Millions in Cash, Suspicious Russian Citizens in Premises of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate

The Security Service of Ukraine reported on the results of the searches it conducted in the territory of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery in Kyiv, the Koretsky Holy Trinity Monastery, and the Sarny-Polissia Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Rivne region on 22 November.

The press service of the Security Service of Ukraine reported that more than 350 church buildings and 850 people had been inspected in cooperation with the officers of the National Police and the National Guard.

More than 50 people passed in-depth counterintelligence interviews, in particular, using a lie detector. There were not only citizens of Ukraine but also citizens of the Russian Federation among them. During the document check, some of the persons provided Soviet passports and military IDs, did not have original documents at all, or had passports of Ukrainian citizens with signs of forgery or damage. The special services are conducting an in-depth check on these people.

It is reported that a 32-year-old Ukrainian was found in the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery, who may be involved in the illegal activities of the Antvan pro-Russian information agency.

Also, during the searches in the premises of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate, the security forces found:

• Pro-Russian literature used during training in seminaries and parish schools, in particular for the propaganda of the “Russian world”
• More than UAH 2 million, more than USD 100,000, and several thousand Russian rubles in cash

Found materials will be handed over for appropriate examination.

Information is spreading on social networks that the searches in the premises of the Sarny Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Rivne region were carried out after an anonymous report claiming that the diocese leadership was hiding hostile sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine launched criminal proceedings over glorifying the “Russian world” during a service in one of the temples of the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery” on 12 November.

Bohdan Marusyak