Ukrainian priests busted for fake alcohol scheme
The Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) has uncovered and shut
down an illegal alcohol production operation in Kyiv and Rivne oblasts, which
was organized by members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow
Patriarchate). Nearly 20,000 liters of counterfeit alcohol were seized, BEB
reported on March 25.
Its investigation identified a group of individuals,
including UOC-MP priests, who had set up mass production of fake alcoholic
beverages, particularly grape wine, in the Kyiv and Rivne oblasts, the BEB
reported.
“The suspects purchased the necessary equipment, raw
materials, and supplies for their illegal activities,” the statement said. “They
sold alcohol, which posed serious risks to public health, in both retail and
wholesale batches.”
According to the report, BEB detectives conducted 13
searches across Kyiv and Rivne oblasts, including at illegal production sites,
in vehicles, and at the residences of those involved.
As a result, authorities seized nearly 20,000 liters of
counterfeit alcohol, wine bottling equipment, accounting records, computer
equipment, financial documents, USB drives, and other materials.
The estimated value of the seized excise goods is
approximately 1.8 million hryvnias ($46,000).
In February, the Bureau of Economic Security had also
exposed an organized group involved in the illegal production of counterfeit
perfume and cosmetic products under well-known global brands in Kharkiv, Kyiv,
and Poltava oblasts.
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has been banned in Ukraine
since January 2024, when the Verkhovna Rada passed a law prohibiting religious
organizations linked to Russia. The law aims to limit the ROC’s influence due
to its ties to the Kremlin and its role in supporting Russian aggression
against Ukraine.
The law specifies that religious organizations affiliated
with or subordinate to the ROC are no longer permitted to operate in Ukraine.
One key target of this legislation was the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow
Patriarchate), which was part of the ROC despite previously claiming “independence.”
The Ukrainian government is now implementing legal measures
to cease the activities of such organizations in accordance with the newly
adopted law.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
