This information was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), according to Ukrinform.

The SBU has completed the preliminary investigation into members of a criminal organization carrying out these information operations on behalf of the Russian FSB (Federal Security Service). Among the suspects is the leader of a UOC-MP church in kyiv, who is believed to have been part of the FSB network.

The case documents reveal that this cleric coordinated three associates – self-proclaimed “political experts” in kyiv – who promoted pro-Kremlin narratives on a large scale. Their content was intended to justify Russia’s war against Ukraine and to incite interfaith discord in Ukraine.

The four suspects were arrested by SBU officers in March and their cases have now been sent to court. They risk life imprisonment with confiscation of their property.

The investigation revealed that these defendants were part of one of the largest FSB networks operating in Ukraine since the start of the large-scale invasion. Thanks to the rapid action of the SBU, this hostile cell was neutralized in the early stages of its activities against Ukraine.

Furthermore, more than ten other participants in this FSB network are still under investigation; they are currently believed to be hiding abroad.

The main suspect allegedly oversaw the dissemination of anti-Ukrainian content through controlled Telegram and YouTube channels, Facebook pages and official websites of various UOC-MP dioceses. Immediately after the release of these documents, Russian central television channels and online media amplified them, spreading misinformation about Ukraine. This operation aimed to discredit Ukraine on the international scene, particularly in the eyes of Western partners.

Based on the evidence collected, the detainees face multiple charges under the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including:

Previously, the SBU filed a complaint in absentia against a UOC priest deputy from the Zhytomyr region who allegedly denied the Russian invasion and blamed the war on the Ukrainians.