The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducts searches at the facilities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in two regions of the republic. The department announced this on its Telegram channel.

“Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine carry out counterintelligence activities at the facilities of the UOC in Cherkasy, Volyn (...) regions. (…) The events are held jointly with the National Police and the National Guard,” the statement said.

It is specified that searches are also taking place in the part of the Kherson region controlled by Kyiv. According to the SBU, we are talking about monasteries, cathedrals, temples, administrative buildings of dioceses, a Sunday school and a diocesan library.

Earlier, the SBU carried out searches in the Mgarsky Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, which is located in the Poltava region. The purpose of the events was "countering the subversive activities of the Russian special services" and protecting the population from provocations. The department noted that persons who may be involved in illegal activities are being identified.