Ukrainian Security Service Exposes Russian Orthodox Church Metropolitan for Funding Occupiers

Uncovering Financial Support for Occupation Forces

According to Главком: Ukrainian law enforcement has exposed a leader of a Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) religious structure who financed and supplied Russian occupation units with material and technical resources. Investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) determined that a Russian citizen was involved in providing support to militants. The individual is believed to be Metropolitan Mark (secular name Oleksiy Tuzhykov). The metropolitan has been charged in absentia under a provision of the Ukrainian Criminal Code related to financing actions aimed at violently overthrowing the constitutional order.

The Metropolitan’s Actions and Consequences

According to gathered intelligence, in March 2023, while on temporarily occupied territory in Donetsk Oblast, the ROC metropolitan personally handed over an electric generator and a chainsaw to Russian servicemen from the Pyatnashka unit to fortify their positions. In November 2023, the suspect organized fundraising, repairs, and subsequent delivery of two UAZ military off-road vehicles to the front lines. These vehicles were handed over to occupiers from Russia’s Kirov Oblast for use in combat operations against Ukraine.

Currently, the suspect is likely in Russia or on temporarily occupied territories. Efforts are underway to place him on an international wanted list. Official confirmation of the suspect’s identity has not yet been provided. Meanwhile, Metropolitan Hilarion (Grigory Alfeyev) has left the Czech Republic, where he was detained by police after containers of narcotics were found in his car. He has expressed fears of

“being arrested again, so he fled and plans to personally report the incident to Patriarch Kirill.”

The legal repercussions for Metropolitan Mark could be severe, as his activities fall under criminal prosecution for financing aggression against Ukraine.

This case underscores the importance of investigating and holding accountable those who support aggression against Ukraine, regardless of their status. It highlights how religious organizations can become key tools in providing informational and material-technical backing for military operations, raising concerns about security and national integrity. Involving international law enforcement agencies in the investigation could be a crucial step in countering aggression and the financing of terrorism.

The ongoing scrutiny of religious figures in Ukraine highlights the complexities of the current situation. For instance, the recent court's decision regarding the head of Sviatohirsk Lavra reveals how legal proceedings are evolving in response to allegations surrounding support for occupation forces. This connection underscores the broader implications for religious institutions amid the ongoing conflict.