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Chairman of the Investigative Committee Expresses Condolences in Connection with Tragic Death of Military Diocese Cleric Protoiereus Oleg Artyomov

In St. Petersburg, they bid farewell to a cleric of the Church of the Great Martyr St. George the Victorious in Novaya Ladoga, Protoiereus Oleg Artyomov. On March 24, 2022, being on an official assignment, the clergyman tragically died near the village of Zhuravlyovka, Belgorod Oblast, when the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired a Smerch missile launcher.

The Chairman of the IC of Russia has expressed his sincere condolences to the relatives of the deceased, “This is an irreparable loss not only for the protoiereus' relatives and friends, but also for the entire Orthodox congregation. A notable person, a true patriot, a heroic mentor and a true Christian, for 11 years he was the rector of a church in Stavropol. He participated in the First Chechen Campaign as part of Cossack units, served on nuclear submarines in Kamchatka, reinforcing the servicemen's strength of spirit and faith. In recent years, Father Oleg served in the St. George Church in Novaya Ladoga. Russian Orthodox priest Protoiereus Oleg Artyomov has been spiritually nurturing Russian soldiers since the beginning of the special military operation to protect the residents of Donbass, urging them, just as he always did, to honorably fulfill their duty. He remained faithful to his vocation to the end. He trained many generations of preachers and clergymen, and today we all feel an irreparable loss. The love and grateful memory of Protoiereus Oleg will forever remain in the hearts of his family and friends, as well as everyone who knew him.”

A. I. Bastrykin added that the circumstances of the cleric's death were being thoroughly investigated by the Central Office of the IC of Russia. Ukrainian nationalists involved in this crime are being identified within the criminal case initiated under Article 105 of the Russian Criminal Code (murder). During the investigation, a comprehensive range of investigative actions necessary to establish the truth and hold all perpetrators criminally liable will be carried out.