Ukraine accuses Russian occupation official of war crimes against religious groups in Melitopol

On Oct. 20, Ukraine’s Security Service announced that Artem Sharlai, head of the religious-affairs department in the Russian occupation administration of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has been notified of suspicion under Article 438 for war-crime violations. Sharlai, who served as Vladimir Putin’s authorized representative in occupied Melitopol during the 2024 presidential election, is accused of organizing systematic repression of religious groups that resisted Russian rule or refused to join the Russian Orthodox Church.

Evidence cited includes the closure of churches, seizure of property, detention and forced expulsion of clergy, and the compilation of lists of pro-Ukrainian parishioners that the Federal Security Service used to conduct raids involving abductions and torture. The allegations echo findings from a journalist at one outlet 2025 documentary “No God But Theirs,” which featured Greek Catholic priest Oleksandr Bohomaz identifying Sharlai in searches of religious sites. Under supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the investigation remains ongoing.