Metropolitan Tikhon of the Russian Orthodox Church Charged in Absentia for Backing Russia’s Aggression Against Ukraine by Ukraine’s Security and Prosecutor’s Offices

Charges Filed Against Metropolitan Tikhon

According to 5 канал: Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) together with the Office of the Prosecutor General have formally charged Metropolitan Georgy Shevkunov, widely known as Tikhon of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), in absentia. He faces accusations of endorsing Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and justifying related war crimes. Tikhon is recognized as a spiritual advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin and a key ideological figure within the Kremlin’s regime. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he has actively supported the aggression and urged assistance for the invading armed forces.

Metropolitan Tikhon’s Role and Activities

In 2023, Tikhon was appointed the head of the ROC’s Crimean Metropolia, operating in the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine. He has leveraged his ecclesiastical position to promote the ideology underpinning Russian imperialism, known as 'rashism.' Investigations reveal that Tikhon frequently appears in public forums where he defends missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and calls for the continued occupation of Ukraine’s entire territory. The SBU initiated a specialized expert review, which confirmed his involvement in information sabotage activities serving Russian interests.

He was charged under Part 2 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for encroachment on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability, as well as under Part 3 of Article 436-2 for justifying Russia’s armed aggression and glorifying its perpetrators. Efforts are ongoing to bring him to criminal responsibility.

The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) officially declared the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, whose activities are banned in Ukraine. DESS’s research identified clear signs of this affiliation, violating Ukraine’s law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.”

After DESS issued an order demanding the Kyiv Metropolia to rectify these legal breaches, Metropolitan Onufriy, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, refused to comply in a formal letter. With no corrective action taken and no justification provided to overturn the order, DESS confirmed the affiliation status. The SBU emphasized:

“Tikhon was among the earliest supporters of Russia’s full-scale invasion of our country and called for aiding the armed groups of the aggressor state.”

It further noted that “he frequently engages in public speeches justifying attacks on Ukrainian cities and advocating for the further occupation of all Ukrainian territory.”

This development highlights Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to counteract Russian influence, especially within religious institutions. The official recognition of the Kyiv Metropolia’s ties to the ROC underscores the Ukrainian government’s commitment to safeguarding national security and territorial sovereignty. The prosecution of Metropolitan Tikhon could set a significant precedent in combating Russia’s information warfare and subversive activities conducted through religious channels.