Cherkasy Eparchy shuts down its website due to SBU pressure
Officials tried to use the technical features of the platform to accuse the site's moderators.
As of May 17, 2025, the website of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC, which was created 13 years ago, has ceased its operation. According to the eparchy's press service, the reason for the website's closure was the attempts by the SBU to accuse the platform's moderators of justifying the aggression of the Russian Federation.
"This website was launched in 2012 and functioned for 13 years. Since 2023, as part of the broader persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, SBU agents attempted to exploit technical aspects of the platform to charge the site moderators under Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a sentence of up to 8 years and asset confiscation," the message says.
As a result of such pressure, the eparchy explains, the website staff refused to continue working in order not to put themselves and their families at risk. For more than two years, the website had no administrators, technical support, or protection.
"In this regard, as of today, the website of the Cherkasy Eparchy is officially ceasing to operate and entering archive mode. We thank all our readers who have been with us throughout these years!" the Cherkasy Eparchy wrote.
As reported by the UOJ, the head of the SBU department that «worked» with the UOC turned out to be an FSB agent.
