Media: SBU opens 10 new cases against UOC clergy in one month
Security Service of Ukraine. Illustrative photo: kapterka
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has updated its figures on criminal proceedings against clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to information provided to the Ukrainska Pravda by the SBU in September 2025, a total of 180 cases have been initiated since the beginning of 2022.
On August 12, SBU head Vasyl Maliuk stated that 170 criminal cases had been brought against UOC representatives. Thus, within a month the security services opened 10 more cases.
Among those targeted are 23 bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Proceedings have been launched under various articles – from “justification of Russian aggression against Ukraine” and “state treason” to “encroachment on territorial integrity.”
According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, Ukrainian courts have so far convicted 38 UOC clergy: 11 in 2024 and 27 in 2025.
Notably, many of the SBU-initiated cases against UOC priests were based on posts in social media, data from private correspondence, and even congratulatory messages for May 9 published on Facebook.
As the UOJ earlier reported, commenting on the prosecution of UOC clergy, Maliuk insisted that the SBU is “definitely not fighting the Church,” describing himself as “a believer.”
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