The Russian foreign ministry criticised Ukraine as "godless", "wild" and "immoral" on Wednesday for raiding an old Orthodox Christian Monastery in Kyiv.
Ukraine's SBU security service and police raided the 1,000-year-old Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex - or Kyiv Monastery of the Caves - early on Tuesday as part of operations to counter suspected "subversive activities by Russian special services," the SBU said.
The site is a Ukrainian cultural treasure and the headquarters of the Russian-backed wing of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that falls under the Moscow Patriarchate.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, saying a "special operation" was needed to demilitarise the country. Ukraine and the West have dismissed this as a baseless pretext for a war of conquest that has killed thousands, displaced millions, and turned cities to rubble.
On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said there was no justification for the raid and compared the "Kyiv regime" to Bacchus, the Roman god of wine whose name is often associated in Russian with immoral mayhem, chaos and revelry.
"This is just some kind of total godless Bacchanalia. There is no justification or explanation for this. And there cannot be," Zakharova said on Sputnik radio.
"This is another part of the absolutely immoral and wild actions of the Kyiv regime."
Russia's Orthodox Church said on Tuesday the search was an "act of intimidation".
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Why IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Training Has Been Put On Hold
Ukraine Introduces AI-Generated Spokesperson For Foreign Ministry 100 Nepalis Who Joined Russian Army Missing: Foreign Minister NP Saud Ukraine Legalises Medical Marijuana To Help Ease Stress From Russia War Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms UP Banker Dies By Suicide After 6 Months Of Bullying, Body-Shaming 3 Indians Among Crew Detained On Singapore Ship Carrying Drugs: Report Ensure Equal Rights For LGBTQ+ Community In Jail: Centre Writes To States Indian Among 6 People Killed In Oman Mosque Shooting Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.