The Security Service of Ukraine has commented on the searches of employees of the Union of Orthodox Journalists and the First Cossack. The agency claims that “FSB agents” were neutralized during the searches, and the defendants in the case face life imprisonment. This is reported on the official Telegram channel of the SSU.

“The security service neutralized in Kiev criminal organization, which conducted information sabotage by order of the FSB. The attackers massively produced and “dispersed” pro-Kremlin narratives and provocative messages that were supposed to destabilize the socio-political situation and incite religious hatred in Ukraine. As a result of comprehensive measures, the SBU unmasked more than 15 members of the group, four key figures have already been detained. Among them is one of the leaders of the UOC (MP) church in the capital, who was a member of the agent apparatus of the Russian secret service”, – the agency said in a commentary.

The SBU claims that an agent network of the Russian special services was working under the cover of the church media. According to investigators, journalists of Orthodox media disseminated “necessary for Russian propaganda narratives”, which the Russian Federation used for its own purposes.

“Now this is one of the largest fsb networks that operated in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. It had a clear hierarchy and distribution of functions, as well as – a constant connection with the largest media rf, which immediately picked up the “necessary” content. According to the investigation, the coordinator of the network in Ukraine was a cleric detained by the SBU. He was responsible for the distribution of materials that incited inter-confessional hostility and justified a war of aggression against Ukraine”, – the SSU stressed.

Also in the security service of Ukraine told, under what articles of the criminal code, according to investigators, the offenses were committed.

“On the basis of the collected evidence four detainees and ten more participants of the criminal organization reported on suspicion under the following articles of the Criminal code of Ukraine:

▪️ p. 2 Art. 111 (high treason committed under martial law);
▪️ p. 6, art. 111-1 (collaboration activities);
▪️ p. 4 Art. 28, para. 1, para. 2 Art. 255 (creation of and participation in a criminal organization);
▪️ p. 3 Art. 161 (incitement of religious enmity and hatred committed by an organized group);
▪️ part 1, 2 of article 436-2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine).

Now the issue of choosing a measure of restraint – detention – is being decided. The investigation is continuing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. The attackers face life imprisonment”, – summarized in the Department.

We will remind, earlier we reported that on March 12, 2024 the Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches at the employees of the Union of Orthodox journalists and the “First Cossack”.