SBU announced searches at the facilities of the UOC in the Kherson region

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) during counterintelligence activities identified suspicious persons, unregistered weapons and Russian propaganda materials at the facilities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), the press service of the SBU reported.

So, on the territory of the Pustynno-Nikolaevsky Skete of the Holy Intercession Convent, 16 people were found who were illegally at the facility, since it is located in the Chernobyl zone.

In the premises of the Kherson diocese, SBU officers found a gun without permits, the flag and coat of arms of Russia.

“The special service also took on information about several clergy who are likely to be in contact with citizens of Russia and Belarus,” the report says.

It is noted that the events were held within the framework of the law, together with the National Police and volunteer formations of territorial communities with the participation of representatives of the UOC.

On December 1, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on restrictive measures against representatives of religious organizations that are allegedly associated with Russia. Earlier that day, the SBU carried out new searches at UOC facilities in Zhytomyr, Rivne and Zakarpattia regions. As a result, the Metropolitan of the Kirovograd diocese of the UOC was charged with “subversive activities against the state and inciting religious hatred.” Later, the Ukrainian media reported that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine imposed sanctions against the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Pavel (Lebed) and about ten more clergy of the UOC.