SBU accuses Russia of instigating seizures of churches in Ukraine

Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Viktor Kononenko

Such actions will make it possible to further incite violent confrontations and mass protests with the participation of believers. This opinion was expressed by the deputy head of the Security Service of Ukraine Viktor Kononenko at a briefing on October 3 in Kiev, reports Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, Russia’s plan is aimed at “creating the so-called controlled chaos. As the main directions today, we see incitement of interfaith enmity as a result of the possibility of Ukraine’s receiving the Tomos, as well as the organization of events of active influence in order to induce the Ukrainian leadership to concessions to the aggressor state and initiate peaceful negotiations on favourable terms.” 

In this case, the SBU is expecting "instigating the seizures of religious buildings of one of the confessions, allegedly by representatives of right-wing nationalist organizations, which will allow them to further inspire power confrontations and mass protests with the participation of believers".

As the UOJ reported, earlier the deputy head of the Security Service of Ukraine Viktor Kononenko stated that interfaith conflicts and the seizures of churches in Ukraine were artificially created.

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