The Ukrainian security services (SBU) searched several monasteries in several cities, including Kiev, to find alleged “subversive activities” of Russian interests.
The searches focused on facilities associated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, including the Kiev Caves Monastery, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Authorities have also expanded operations to the Rivne region of western Ukraine, aiming to track down possible weapons stockpiles or spy hideouts.
In recent months, the Orthodox Church has tried to distance itself from possible sympathies for Moscow and thus distance itself from the military offensive that began in February.
Yet the SBU launched an investigation after a cult sung song called for the awakening of “Mother Russia”.
Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov accused Kiev of religious persecution.
According to him, the raids on the monastery are “another link in the chain of military actions against Russian Orthodoxy”, according to official authorities.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24 has already led to the flight of more than 13 million people – more than six million internally displaced people and more than 7.8 million to European countries – according to the latest UN data. to land. which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented 6,595 dead civilians and 10,189 wounded as confirmed since the start of the war, underlining that these numbers are well below the real ones.
Source: DN
