Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) of Moscow during a public event on May 8, 2025, when Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić  presented  him with the Order of the Republic of Serbia, was seen with a panagia, which is likely stolen. It was such a panagia, which was made in a single copy by Lavra jewelers, that was stolen in 2016 from the house of Metropolitan Alexander (Drabynka). This panagia belonged to the late Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan). There were no similar products in Russia, reports NVP KRAKOW with reference to SPIRITUAL FRONT IN UKRAINE .

This fact adds new questions to the investigation of criminal proceedings No. 12016110200000924, opened on March 12, 2016 under Part 5 of Article 185 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (theft on an especially large scale) into the theft of two safes with personal valuables of Metropolitan Oleksandr (Drabynka) in the village of Khodosivka, Kyiv region.

We remind you that on April 6, 2017, during a special operation of the National Police, during an attempt to sell part of the stolen property worth 500,000 USD, a group of persons were detained: S.O. Bents, V.Yu. Dublyak, A.M. Korol, K.V. Fartushnyak, O.I. Savenko, who were in a previous conspiracy, and part of the stolen property of the victim, Metropolitan Oleksandr, was seized.

Among those detained, according to law enforcement agencies, were two priests of the UOC (in unity with the MP): Stepan Bents and Savenko O.I. Priest Stepan Bents has already died, and Savenko Oleksiy is still the rector of the church of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Poznyaki (1 Hryshka Street). It was also reported that during communication with a potential (fake) buyer, the suspects were interested in whether he had a Russian passport.

However, as evidenced by the case materials, despite the detention of several people and the seizure of part of the stolen property, suspicion under Article 198 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acquisition, receipt, storage or sale of property obtained by crime) was reported only to priest Stepan Bentsa. Subsequently, a plea agreement was concluded with him, and, according to the injured party, without its notification and consent. The other identified persons, whom Bentsa pointed out, were not brought to justice.

The persons involved in the case who were detained with material evidence… are at large. And the investigation? More than eight years — no real progress. According to the injured party, the investigation is characterized by the actual absence of active investigative actions. In May 2019, the pre-trial investigation was entrusted to the Supreme Administrative Court of the Main Police Department in Kyiv, but despite the resonance of this crime, no significant progress has been made and the investigation is not being conducted properly. Part of the stolen property has still not been found.

The world has already become accustomed to cynical statements and blessings for the murders of Ukrainians from the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill (Gundyaev). But now, it seems, a shameful stigma is being added to his “track record” of a war criminal – the acquirer of stolen goods! And not just any thing, but a panagia that belonged to the late His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan). A man who blesses missiles flying at peaceful Ukrainian cities with one hand, with the other, it turns out, does not disdain to appropriate stolen valuables! Is there a bottom to this cynicism? First – support for unjust, sinful aggression, and now – theft, which exposes him not only as an accomplice of terrorists, but also as an acquirer of stolen goods

The appearance of Patriarch Kirill with a Panagia, which according to the description and photo coincides with the stolen one, raises serious questions about the ways in which the valuables entered Russia. This circumstance may indicate the need for additional investigative actions and international legal cooperation to establish all the circumstances of the case and return the stolen objects to their rightful owner – Metropolitan Alexander.

The question remains open as to who exactly stole Metropolitan Alexander’s personal valuables, how the stolen items ended up in the possession of those trying to sell them, and how the unique panagia could have ended up with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. The ineffective investigation over a long period of time and new circumstances require a thorough investigation and an appropriate response from law enforcement agencies.

Spiritual Front of Ukraine