SBU reports results of searches in UOC churches in Kyiv and Kherson regions

Searches in UOC eparchies. Photo: facebook.com/SecurSerUkraine

The SBU press service said that officers found "suspicious individuals, unregistered weapons and Russian propaganda materials" at UOC facilities in Kyiv and Kherson regions.

The report said that searches "on the territory of St. Nicholas's Skete revealed 16 suspicious individuals. Among them were men of athletic build. They were on the site illegally as civilians have no right to be in the exclusion zone”.

Now in relation to these people, administrative reports have been drawn up under Article 46-1 of the Code of Administrative Offences "Violation of requirements of the radiation safety regime in the locations affected by radioactive contamination".

"Their involvement in crimes against state security is being checked," the statement added.

The SBU also said that in the attic of St. Nicholas's Skete they found "camouflage netting, which is usually used for military purposes: to camouflage weapons, equipment and engineering structures".

In the premises of the Kherson Eparchy, SBU officers found "a rifle without relevant permits, a flag and a golden coat of arms of Russia".

"The special service also took the information about several clergymen, who probably have contacts with citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, for scrutiny. In addition, law enforcers found propaganda materials glorifying Russia," the report noted.

Earlier, the SBU is conducting searches in Kharkiv and Izium eparchies.

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