Three people detained while trying to set fire to Moscow Patriarchate church

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed the report about the incident to a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty correspondent.

"The proceedings have been opened under Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - a terrorist attack. Law enforcers are verifying the probable involvement of the detainees in other similar cases in the region," the report said.

According to the SBU, other details will be disclosed during a special briefing by the SBU chief in Kyiv on Monday, February 18.

In February, police in Zaporozhia initiated proceedings on two cases of damage done to the facades of the temples of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Shevchenkivsky and Voznesenivsky districts of the city. Unidentified individuals painted Nazi symbols on the walls of the churches.

Earlier, the SBU reported that Russian intelligence services were looking for people who are ready to set fire to the temples of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate for money.