The SBU declared suspicion to the Sviatohirsk Lavra Metropolitan due to his "hints" to the enemy on the AFU positions

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has declared suspicion against the Metropolitan of the Sviatohirsk Lavra due to "hints" given to russian forces regarding the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the Donetsk oblast. The press center of the special service announced this on April 24.

According to the investigation, the cleric betrayed the locations of AFU checkpoints to the occupiers during his liturgy. Under the guise of a video recording, the vicar disclosed the addresses of Ukrainian military checkpoints to parishioners. Subsequently, this video was published on the Lavra's website and in a local Telegram channel group. Thus, the cleric attempted to covertly provide the aggressor with the locations of Ukrainian checkpoints in the front-line area.

The investigation reveals that the Metropolitan had expressed pro-kremlin narratives about the war in Ukraine even before the full-scale invasion of russia. This is evidenced by numerous interviews in which he referred to russia's armed aggression as a "civil conflict".

Based on the evidence collected, the SBU investigators have informed the Metropolitan of suspicions under Part 2 of Article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (dissemination of information about the movement or location of the AFU, if their identification is possible on-site). Currently, the issue of applying preventive measures against him is being resolved.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime. The suspect faces up to 8 years of imprisonment.

It is noted that comprehensive measures were carried out by the SBU employees in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts under the procedural guidance of the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office.