SBU detains Moscow priest who spread fakes about the Armed Forces of Ukraine

SBU takes into custody Moscow priest who spread fakes about the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Security Service of Ukraine served a notice of suspicion to the abbot of the Holy Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra in Donetsk region Igor Yakovenko, which spreading Kremlin fakes and denied the crimes of the Russian army.

According to the investigation, During liturgies and communication with parishioners cleric promoted Russian narratives, In particular:

• denied the shelling of Ukrainian cities by the occupiers;

• blamed the destruction on the Armed Forces of Ukraine;

• called the war an «internal conflict» and called for «peace at all costs».

How the “peer-to-peer agent” acted”

In the spring of 2022, during his service at the Lavra, Yakovenko denied the involvement of the Russian army in the massive shelling, when the victims were several churches and residential buildings in the region.

«Investigators have documented that during his sermons he systematically spread Russian media narratives and discredited the Ukrainian Defence Forces,» the SBU said.

Penalties and further actions

Based on the evidence collected, the court took the metropolitan into custody.
He is charged with ч. 1 Art. 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - collaboration.

The clergyman is threatened with up to 8 years' imprisonment with confiscation of property.