In Kharkiv, a cassocked monk of the so-called "Kharkiv Diocese of the UOC (MP)" will stand trial. He is accused of a series of serious crimes against the sexual freedom and inviolability of children, including rape, blackmail, debauchery, and production of child pornography. This was reported by the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, writes UNN.
On the defendant's bench is a representative of the Kharkiv Diocese of the UOC (MP). The cassocked monk, who was responsible for preparing baked goods at the church, is accused of committing a series of serious crimes against the sexual freedom and inviolability of minor and young children
According to the investigation, in the spring of 2025, the man met a 14-year-old girl at the monastery bakery, who sang in the small church choir. During one of the meetings, he persuaded the minor to consume alcohol and, taking advantage of her vulnerable state, raped her.
Subsequently, in order to establish control over the girl for the purpose of sexual exploitation, the accused resorted to blackmail and threatened to tell representatives of the diocese about the sexual act. The victim was forced to repeatedly submit to acts of a sexual nature both in the monastery bakery and at the defendant's place of residence.
During one of these episodes, the man filmed the naked girl on video. In total, a number of pornographic files involving children were seized from his phone.
Furthermore, during July – September 2025, the monk, via the "Telegram" messenger, gained the trust of another child — an 11-year-old girl. The man engaged in cynical and explicit conversations with her on sexual topics, aimed at her intellectual corruption.
In March 2026, law enforcement officers detained the monk under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and notified him of suspicion. He was taken into custody.
Now, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office has approved and sent to court an indictment against him on the following charges:
- rape of a minor (Part 3 of Article 152 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);
- trafficking in a person, committed for the purpose of exploitation, using blackmail and her vulnerable state, committed against a minor (Part 2 of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);
- storage and production of child pornography (Parts 1, 3 of Article 301-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine);
- debauchery of a young child (Part 2 of Article 156 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Speculation on religion and the place of spiritual service to commit crimes against children is the pinnacle of immorality. Hiding behind his church status and a holy place, the accused purposefully encroached on the sexual inviolability of the most defenseless, exploited their vulnerable state, and even blackmailed them. A person who was supposed to uphold spiritual values systematically abused the trust of children to satisfy his own cynical needs. We will make every effort to ensure the accused receives a just punishment
Kyiv resident suspected of sexual violence against five minor nephews07.07.26, 20:36