On December 15, 2022, during a press conference held in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Bishop of Ivano-Frankivsk and Kolomyia Nikita announced an appeal to the court in connection with the slander spread by the Left Bank and a number of other media. This was reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.

According to Bishop Nikita, on the day the incident took place, at 7:02 a.m., he heard a loud, incomprehensible sound. Then the bishop (then still an archimandrite) ran out to see what had happened, but did not have time, because he heard someone breaking glass with a butt. At this time, a young man also ran out, who was slandered by the anti-church media.

“We were forced to hold our hands above our heads, and then it started… I heard the representatives of the SSU taking pictures on the phone. When I asked who gave you the right to take pictures of me, they told me that no one takes pictures,” said the bishop.

Later, based on the pictures of the SSU, a fake was created about Bishop Nikita and a minor youth. This fake was first published on the Left Bank website, from where it was picked up by a number of media outlets.

The bishop said that he asked the investigators what he should do about this incident, to which he received an answer that it did not concern them (the investigators) at all.

At the same time, it should be noted that it is still unknown where some photos from the searches, unpublished by the press service of the SBU, appeared in the hands of journalists.

The bishop also noted that neither he, nor the boy’s parents, nor Metropolitan Meletiy were given any legal documents (suspicions) testifying to criminal acts against a minor youth.

“Last Saturday, my lawyer filed a lawsuit against the Left Bank,” the bishop said.