Russian occupation official charged with war crimes over church persecution in Melitopol

SBU names Artem Sharlai in absentia over alleged repression of religious communities, following Kyiv Independent investigation

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

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Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said on Oct. 20 that it had notified Artem Sharlai, a Russian occupation official previously investigated by the Kyiv Independent, of suspicion of war crimes in absentia over his alleged involvement in persecuting religious communities in occupied Melitopol.

The SBU alleges that Sharlai heads the department responsible for religious organizations within Russia's occupation administration in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and that he also served as Russian President Vladimir Putin's authorized representative in occupied Melitopol during Russia's 2024 presidential election.

Investigators allege Sharlai helped organize widespread repression against religious communities that resisted Russian occupation or refused to join the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the SBU, he compiled lists of pro-Ukrainian parishioners for Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), lists that were subsequently used to carry out raids against clergy and worshippers. During these raids, Russian forces allegedly abducted people from their homes or the streets and detained them in occupation-run prisons, where they were subjected to torture including beatings and suffocation with plastic bags.

The Kyiv Independent previously investigated Sharlai's involvement in religious persecution in its documentary No God But Theirs, released in May 2025. That investigation documented the systematic persecution of Christian communities in occupied Melitopol, including the closure of churches, confiscation of religious property, and the detention and forced expulsion of clergy. In the documentary, Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest Oleksandr Bohomaz identified Sharlai as one of the officials personally involved in searches of religious properties, including inspections of religious literature.

The Kyiv Independent's undercover journalists also contacted Sharlai while posing as representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church. During the recorded conversation, Sharlai discussed efforts to suppress religious groups he described as "sects" and identified two associates, Andrii Zinchenko and Viacheslav Lytvynenko, as involved in his department's activities.

Sharlai was notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which concerns violations of the laws and customs of war. The SBU said the investigation remains ongoing under the supervision of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The case marks a formal legal step against an official whose role in religious persecution was documented by journalists, moving investigative findings into the criminal justice system.
It signals Ukraine's continued efforts to pursue accountability for alleged abuses in occupied territories, even when suspects remain beyond its reach.
The charges relate to the treatment of religious communities, highlighting the broader targeting of civilian institutions under occupation.

Background

Melitopol has been under Russian occupation since early 2022, and Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly documented alleged repressions of civilians there. War crimes prosecutions in absentia are a mechanism Ukraine has used as suspects remain in Russian-controlled territory. The charges here follow a documentary investigation released in May 2025 that detailed the alleged systematic persecution of Christian communities in the city.

Key Perspectives

Ukrainian prosecutors (SBU): Their account describes Sharlai as an orchestrator of repression, from compiling lists for the FSB to overseeing religious inspections, with raids and torture allegedly following from those lists. The case rests on this investigation, which remains ongoing. The documentary investigators: The Kyiv Independent's undercover work, including a recorded conversation in which Sharlai discussed suppressing groups he called "sects," forms part of the evidentiary picture cited in the charge. The accused: No response from Sharlai is reported. The charges are in absentia, meaning the allegations are formally made but not yet tested before a court in which he could defend himself.

What to Watch

Whether the SBU notifies the two associates named by Sharlai, Zinchenko and Lytvynenko, of suspicion as the investigation proceeds.
Any move toward trial in absentia, which would test how Ukrainian courts handle these allegations.
Whether the case draws further documentary or official attention to religious persecution in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Sources

Russian occupation official exposed in Kyiv Independent documentary charged with war crimes · Kyiv Independent

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

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Partly supportedSharlai was charged with war crimes.Kyiv Independent: “Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said on Oct. 20 that it had notified Artem Sharlai, a Russian occupation official previously investigated by the Kyiv Independent, of suspicion of war crimes in absentia”
SupportedThe SBU notified Sharlai of suspicion in absentia over alleged persecution of religious communities, after a Kyiv Independent investigation.Kyiv Independent: “Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said on Oct. 20 that it had notified Artem Sharlai, a Russian occupation official previously investigated by the Kyiv Independent, of suspicion of war crimes in absentia over his alleged involvement in the persecution of religious communities in occupied Melitopol.”
SupportedThe SBU alleges Sharlai heads the department responsible for religious organizations in Russia's occupation administration in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.Kyiv Independent: “According to the SBU , Sharlai heads the department responsible for religious organizations within Russia's occupation administration in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.”
Partly supportedThe SBU alleges Sharlai served as Putin's authorized representative in occupied Melitopol during Russia's 2024 presidential election.Kyiv Independent: “He also served as Russian President Vladimir Putin's authorized representative in occupied Melitopol during Russia's 2024 presidential election.”
SupportedInvestigators allege Sharlai helped organize widespread repression against religious communities that resisted Russian occupation or refused to join the Russian Orthodox Church.Kyiv Independent: “Investigators allege that Sharlai helped organize widespread repression against religious communities that resisted Russian occupation or refused to join the Russian Orthodox Church.”
SupportedAccording to the SBU, Sharlai compiled lists of pro-Ukrainian parishioners for the FSB, and those lists were subsequently used in raids against clergy and worshippers.Kyiv Independent: “According to the SBU, Sharlai compiled lists of pro-Ukrainian parishioners for Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), which were subsequently used to carry out raids against clergy and worshippers.”
SupportedThe SBU says Russian forces abducted people during the raids, detained them in occupation-run prisons and subjected them to torture including beatings and suffocation with plastic bags.Kyiv Independent: “During these raids, Russian forces allegedly abducted people from their homes or the streets and detained them in occupation-run prisons, where they were subjected to torture, including beatings and suffocation with plastic bags, the SBU said.”
SupportedThe Kyiv Independent documentary was released in May 2025 and documented systematic persecution of Christian communities in occupied Melitopol, including church closures, confiscation of religious property, and detention and forced expulsion of clergy.Kyiv Independent: “The Kyiv Independent previously investigated Sharlai's involvement in religious persecution in its documentary No God But Theirs , released in May 2025. The investigation documented the systematic persecution of Christian communities in occupied Melitopol, including the closure of churches, confiscation of religious property, and detention and forced expulsion of clergy.”
SupportedUkrainian Greek Catholic priest Oleksandr Bohomaz identified Sharlai as an official involved in searches of religious properties, including inspections of religious literature.Kyiv Independent: “In the documentary, Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest Oleksandr Bohomaz identified Sharlai as one of the officials personally involved in searches of religious properties, including inspections of religious literature.”
SupportedIn a recorded conversation, Sharlai described some religious groups as “sects.”Kyiv Independent: “During the recorded conversation, Sharlai discussed efforts to suppress religious groups he described as "sects"”
SupportedSharlai identified Andrii Zinchenko and Viacheslav Lytvynenko as associates involved in his department's activities.Kyiv Independent: “and identified two associates — Andrii Zinchenko and Viacheslav Lytvynenko — involved in his department's activities.”
SupportedSharlai was notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, and the SBU said the investigation remains ongoing under the Prosecutor General's Office's supervision.Kyiv Independent: “Sharlai was notified of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which concerns violations of the laws and customs of war. The SBU said the investigation remains ongoing under the supervision of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office.”