SBU confirms arrest of its officer accused of repressions against UOC
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has confirmed the arrest of one of its officers following allegations of involvement in repressions against the UOC.
SBU officials acknowledged that on January 23, a road accident occurred in the city of Vasylkiv, Kyiv region, involving an officer from the Central Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine, as reported by TSN.ua.
The accident resulted in injuries to a minor pedestrian, who was promptly transported to the National Specialized Children’s Hospital “Okhmatdyt”. The child received the necessary medical care, and their condition is currently described as stable. A criminal case regarding the accident has been opened, and the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) and National Police are conducting an inquiry. The SBU officer was taken into custody.
The SBU condemned the behavior of its employee and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement for an impartial investigation.
The injured child, named Matvii, was diagnosed with fractures in both legs, a traumatic brain injury, and lung contusions.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to MP Oleksandr Dubinsky, the arrested officer is identified as Artur Herchak. Dubinsky claims that Herchak’s blood alcohol level was found to be 1.44‰, exceeding the legal limit of 0.3‰.
The MP also stated that Artur Herchak is an employee of the SBU department responsible for actions against the UOC.
As previously reported by the UOJ, on June 17, 2024, UOJ lawyers successfully obtained the dismissal of the lead investigator and senior prosecutor who were handling the case against Orthodox journalists accused of treason by the SBU.
