Russian Occupation Official Suspected of Persecuting Ukrainian Greek Catholic Priests in Melitopol

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office has announced a notice of suspicion against a representative of the Russian occupation administration over the forced expulsion of Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests from Melitopol, a city in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region under Russian occupation. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a Christian denomination under the Pope's authority, and clergy are protected under international humanitarian law in wartime.

According to prosecutors, in 2024 the suspect served as an authorised representative of Vladimir Putin in the Russian presidential election. The Book of Executioners, a Ukrainian project documenting Russian war criminals and those who betrayed Ukraine, identifies him as Artem Sharlai, a native of Zaporizhzhia who has actively backed Russia since the war began in Ukraine's east.

What investigators allege

Investigators say Sharlai worked with Russian troops and officers of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) to persecute clergy holding pro-Ukrainian views. He allegedly demanded that services in Ukrainian stop, that Ukrainian soldiers no longer be mentioned in prayers, that ties with religious organisations in Ukraine be cut, and that congregations re-register under Russian law. He is also said to have gathered information on pro-Ukrainian priests and passed it to the FSB for further persecution.

In December 2022, Sharlai personally took part in a search of a Greek Catholic parish and directed the hunt for religious literature deemed "extremist". That material was later used as grounds for detention.

Investigators believe his actions facilitated the unlawful expulsion of Ukrainian Greek Catholic clergy. He is accused of violating the laws and customs of war under Article 438.1 of Ukraine's Criminal Code.

The source notes that Russian authorities in Crimea recently sentenced a Ukrainian couple for alleged treason and preparing terrorist attacks.