Head of intelligence assures that ROC priests in Europe recruit Ukrainians

Oleh Ivashchenko (right). Photo: Telegraf

The head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, stated in an interview with Ukrinform that “Russian priests” are being tasked by the FSB to earn money in the EU, send it to the occupied territories, and simultaneously recruit Ukrainians.

According to Ivashchenko, intelligence officers are concerned that the 6.5 million Ukrainians who have gone abroad are “falling under the influence of the Russian Church”.

“Russian priests are no longer just priests. They are agents. They went to Europe on assignment, under the cover of their Foreign Intelligence Service or the FSB,” Ivashchenko explained, citing a “specific case in one of the Northern European countries.”

“In some countries, the government allocates certain funds to churches for local parishioners. And the priest transfers this money to the occupied Ukrainian territories. He supports our enemies,” the intelligence chief asserted.

Ivashchenko did not clarify whether his agency believes the FSB is sending ROC (Russian Orthodox Church) clergy to Europe specifically to raise money for the occupied regions.

He added that working with Russian priests is difficult for Ukrainian intelligence, because “in church, a priest doesn’t directly tell you to go spy — he suggests it, influences you.”

When asked by a journalist whether Ukrainians could be recruited in churches, Ivashchenko responded affirmatively: “Exactly. People left — to Poland, Germany, Italy, Montenegro — all over. And Russians are there too.”

He assured that in Ukraine, the Security Service protects citizens from “the influence of Russian intelligence services in churches,” but complained that Ukrainians abroad do not have such protection.

“And that’s a problem, because they can be recruited, influenced, used,” Ivashchenko warned, urging caution.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a Member of Parliament accused female parishioners of the UOC abroad of espionage due to their husbands serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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