The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) raided the St. George’s courtyard of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). This was reported in the Rivne diocese of the UOC.
“At these moments, searches are taking place on the territory of the St. George’s Compound in Rivne”says the message of the Rivne diocese of the UOC in Telegram channel.
It notes that SBU representatives call their actions “security measures.”
After some time, the diocese reported information that SBU employees and representatives of other law enforcement agencies were carrying out security measures in the Pivzavod area of the city of Rivne.
“They are looking for suspicious persons, checking various institutions and organizations”the diocese said in a statement.
The persecution of the clergy of the UOC, including the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, began last fall. Many clergy in Ukraine were accused of pro-Russian activities, and criminal cases were opened against them. In March 2023, the situation escalated to the limit. Then the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine announced the termination of the lease agreement with the monks of the Lavra, allegedly due to violations of the terms of the contract on their part. They were ordered to leave the monastery and given a certain period of time to do so. After this, raider seizures of churches throughout Ukraine began. At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Alexander Tkachenko, admitted that the department he heads acts illegally in relation to the UOC.
