Hundreds of millions of rubles for the Russian army: a former cleric from the Mykolaiv region has been notified of suspicion

29 September 2026 the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office announced charges in absentia against the abbot of the Tikhvino-Onufriivskyi Church of the Voronezh Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church for financing actions aimed at changing the territory and state border of Ukraine. He is accused under Part 3 of Article 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

According to investigators, during 2007–2017 the man lived in the territory of Mykolaiv Oblast and served as a full-time cleric of the Mykolaiv and Voznesensk dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In 2017 he moved to Russia and settled in Voronezh, where he later became the abbot of the Tikhvino-Onufriivskyi Church of the Voronezh Diocese of the ROC.

Law enforcement officials say that after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine the suspect systematically organized the collection and transfer of material resources to units of the Russian Armed Forces participating in hostilities against Ukraine. According to the investigation, for the needs of the Russian military he provided vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, military gear, specialized equipment and other property. The investigators estimate the total value of the transferred material resources at hundreds of millions of Russian rubles.

In addition, according to law enforcement, the suspect repeatedly personally traveled to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. There he handed over what he called “humanitarian aid” to Russian servicemen. The cleric, investigators claim, publicly described such activities on the social network “VKontakte”.

It is also reported that, for assisting Russian servicemen, he repeatedly received awards and commendations from the command of Russian military units.

Since the suspect is on the territory of Russia, Ukrainian law enforcement are taking measures to bring him to criminal responsibility. The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the SBU Directorate in Mykolaiv Oblast.

At the same time, the final legal assessment of the suspect’s actions should be provided by a court after the pre-trial investigation is completed and the case is considered.

Previously we wrote:

• Supported the Russian occupiers: a UOC (MP) clergyman exposed in the Mykolaiv region
• In a cassock and with Google Maps: a UOC (MP) cleric suspected of directing missiles at Odesa
• Searched for air defenses that Russia could strike with missiles: an FSB agent from Mykolaiv received 15 years
• Money from the FSB for coordinates of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: a Mykolaiv serviceman was taken into custody