Ukrainian Priest Arrested for Allegedly Guiding Missiles to Odesa in Russian Intelligence Operation

Russian Intelligence Agent Detained in Ukraine

According to Главком: Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) counterintelligence has arrested an agent of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) in Odesa. The suspect is a recruited priest from a local diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). Investigators allege that this clergyman coordinated a double missile strike on Odesa in March 2024, during which Russian forces targeted a recreational area of the port city with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles. This case highlights ongoing efforts by Ukrainian authorities to root out collaborators amid the ongoing war with Russia.

Investigation Details

During the missile attack, the first projectile struck residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, while the second hit the same location after emergency services had arrived. The priest came to the attention of Russian forces after posting pro-Kremlin comments on Telegram channels. Wearing his cassock, he moved through the city and marked potential target locations on Google Maps. He then sent this intelligence to a chatbot managed by Sergei Lebedev (alias Lokhmaty), a GRU asset hiding in Donetsk.

According to the SBU, the agent also passed on coordinates of Ukrainian air defense systems and assets in the Odesa region. Additionally, he provided details about a power substation near Odesa, including its protection systems. After a Russian strike hit that energy facility, he reported back on the damage. During a search of his residence, authorities seized a smartphone used for gathering intelligence and communicating with Russia’s GRU.

SBU investigators have charged the detainee under Article 111, Part 2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code (high treason during martial law). He remains in custody without bail and faces life imprisonment with asset confiscation. Furthermore, under the procedural guidance of the Luhansk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the UOC (MP) clergyman has been charged with conducting information activities in favor of Russia. While speaking with parishioners and on social media platforms banned in Ukraine, the archimandrite spread pro-Russian messages, supported the "Russian world" ideology, praised the leadership of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church, and referred to the occupation as "liberation."

'After the fire strike, the agent reported to Russian GRU on the consequences of the Russian air attack and went underground to avoid detection. But that didn’t help. SBU officers established the priest’s involvement in adjusting the Odesa shelling and arrested him at his place of residence,' the SBU stated.

This incident underscores the danger and complexity of the situation in Ukraine, where not only military personnel but also civilians can be drawn into intelligence activities on behalf of the aggressor. The arrest of the clergyman is part of a broader effort by Ukrainian law enforcement to combat traitors and collaborators who seek to undermine the country’s defense capabilities. The situation in Odesa demonstrates the critical importance of securing civilian sites and preventing potential attacks on infrastructure vital to the population.

SBU officials clarified that:

• The agent transmitted to the enemy the coordinates of Ukrainian air defense forces and assets that protected Odesa’s airspace during Russian missile attacks.
• He sent the collected information to a chatbot administered by the traitor Sergei Lebedev.

The recent arrest of a priest in Odesa for allegedly aiding Russian missile strikes underscores a troubling trend of local collaborators. Similarly, a Kyiv teenager was also apprehended for providing coordinates to facilitate attacks, highlighting the ongoing threats to Ukrainian security from within its borders. This pattern of espionage emphasizes the urgent need for vigilance as the conflict continues to evolve.