SBU conducts searches in Kharkiv and Izium eparchies
The searches are carried out to prevent the use of religious communities as cells of the "Russian world", the SBU said.
On 10 December 2022, SBU officers are conducting searches at UOC facilities in Kharkiv and Izium eparchies, reports the SBU Directorate of the Kharkiv region on its Facebook page.
The SBU is conducting searches at the Hole Intercession (Pokrovsky) Monastery, the Holy Annunciation Cathedral, the Holy Kazan Church, the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Seeking the Lost", the Holy Dormition Church, St. Peter and Paul’s Church, St. Nicholas’s Church, St. Valentine’s Church, St. Olgas’ Church, St. Queen Tamaras’ Church; St. Michael the Archangels’ Church, the Church of St. George the Victorious, and St. Volodymyr Church of the Kharkiv Eparchy, as well as at the Holy Ascension Cathedral of the Izium Eparchy of the UOC.
According to the report, the searches "are conducted jointly with the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine – as part of the systemic work of the Security Service of Ukraine to counteract subversive activities of Russian special services in our country".
"Given the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, these activities are carried out to prevent the use of religious communities as a cell of the 'Russian world' and to safeguard the population from provocations and terrorist acts," the statement said.
The SBU added that the searches were carried out "with the direct involvement of representatives of the church...to identify individuals who might be involved in illegal activities to the detriment of Ukraine's state sovereignty and items prohibited for circulation".
As earlier reported, the SBU is conducting searches in the Boryspil Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
