"According to the SVR, an agreement has been reached between the Kiev authorities and representatives of UNESCO on taking Christian valuables, including holy relics, out of the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, and their subsequent transfer to the museums of Italy, France, Germany and the Vatican under the pretext of 'rescuing [them] from Russian missile strikes,'" the SVR said in a statement.
An inventory of church property was carried out, and finances were allocated for the transportation of Christian valuables from Ukraine to Europe, the statement said, adding that transport was also prepared.
"There is no doubt that the return of the relics is not included in the plans of the West and the Kiev junta subject to it," the statement added.
Meanwhile, the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information Policy claims that there are no plans to remove the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra relics or transfer them to Western countries.