The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) neutralized in Kyiv a criminal organization that carried out information sabotage ordered by the FSB of the Russian Federation, 15 enemy agents were identified, four, including one of the leaders of the metropolitan church of the UOC (MP), were detained.

"The SBU has neutralized a large-scale FSB agent network, which ‘under the guise’ of the UOC (MP) tried to destabilize the situation in Ukraine," the SBU said on the Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to the SBU, the lawbreakers massively created and dispersed pro-Kremlin narratives and provocative messages that were supposed to destabilize the socio-political situation and incite religious hatred in Ukraine.

"As a result of comprehensive measures, the SBU has exposed more than 15 members of the group, four key defendants have already been detained. Among them is one of the heads of the metropolitan church of the UOC (MP), who was part of the intelligence apparatus of the Russian special service," the message says.

The SBU notes that this is one of the largest FSB networks operating in Ukraine since the beginning of the full–scale invasion - with a clear hierarchy, distribution of functions, as well as constant communication with the largest media of the Russian Federation, which immediately picked up the necessary content.

According to the investigation, the coordinator of the network in Ukraine was a detained cleric, he was responsible for distributing materials inciting sectarian strife and justifying an aggressive war against Ukraine.

"To do this, the defendant personally instructed the ‘perpetrators’ – other members of the criminal organization who acted under the guise of political experts and prepared provocative messages and videos. The prepared content was distributed through dozens of controlled channels on Telegram and YouTube, as well as on Facebook pages and official websites of various dioceses of the UOC (MP)," the message says.

Immediately after the publication of the ordered materials, they were instantly distributed by central TV channels and the Internet edition of the Russian Federation to spread fakes about Ukraine.

According to the report, through information attacks, the enemy hoped not only to undermine the socio-political situation in Ukraine, but also to discredit Ukraine in the international arena.

During searches of the places of residence of the defendants in Kyiv, mobile phones and computer equipment were found, which were used in criminal actions in favor of the aggressor country.

Based on the collected evidence, four detainees and ten other participants of the criminal organization were informed of suspicion under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed under martial law), Part 6 of Article 111-1 (collaboration), Part 4 of Article 28, Part 1, Part 2 of Article 255 (creation and participation in a criminal organization), Part 3 of Article 161 (incitement of religious enmity and hatred committed by an organized group), Parts1, 2 436-2 (justification, recognition of lawful, denial of armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine).

The issue of choosing a preventive measure in the form of detention for the defendants is being resolved.