"The risk [of destabilization in connection with the ‘cross procession’] exists, frankly speaking," Hrytsak said at a joint briefing with the National Police chiefs in Kyiv on Monday.
"Those forces who wish Ukraine no good need their Franz Ferdinand, whose death was the trigger for World War I. But I would not escalate the situation because religious believers have an undisputed right to freedom of religion in Ukraine," the SBU chief said.
Read alsoRussia experiences new methods of hybrid war against Ukraine"I want to emphasize that the Security Service is making every effort to keep track of the situation connected with the events and the "procession" and is monitoring the situation with regard to those groups or structures that are interested in destabilization or in the opportunity to use the ‘cross procession’ to destabilize our country," Hrytsak said.
As reported in early July, a "cross procession for peace," organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, was launched in the Ternopil and Donetsk regions of Ukraine.
The participants plan to arrive in the capital city of Kyiv by late July.
On July 11, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy urged law enforcement agencies to prevent untoward incidents in Kyiv by certain participants of the "cross procession."
