From United24 Media:
A former senior official of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has claimed that every Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) priest serving abroad is either recruited by or affiliated with Russian intelligence services, describing the church as part of Moscow’s broader influence network in Europe.
Speaking at the “Russian Orthodox Church in Europe: Infrastructure of Russian Influence” forum, former Deputy Chief of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) Major General Illia Pavlenko said the ROC is used by multiple Russian intelligence agencies for espionage and information operations, according to RBC-Ukraine on July 18. “The ROC is a structure that acts in the interests of the aggressor state and is used by all Russian intelligence services: the SVR, the military GRU, and the FSB. Any ROC priest who goes abroad is either recruited or holds ranks within the Russian special services,” Pavlenko said.