You're reading: SBU detains persons desecrating temples of Zaporizhia

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained persons involved in desecrating the temples of the former Ukrainian Orthodox Church (the UOC, the Moscow Patriarchate) in Zaporizhia.

According to the SBU Head Vasyl Hrytsak, the SBU collected evidence that shows that the order, organization and financing of the provocations were carried out by Russian special services through structures controlled by them from the so-called State Security Ministry of the Donetsk region, which is under control of Russia-backed separatists.

“In particular, on Feb. 16 of this year, as a result of a special operation, SBU officers detained the perpetrator and his accomplice during an arson attempt at a religious building in the territory of the Church of the Apostle John the Theologian of the Zaporizhia diocese of the UOC-MP,” SBU Head Vasyl Hrytsak said.

He also reported that the organizer of the crime had been detained, while two customers had been determined – they are in the occupied territory.