Vladimir Legoyda, who heads the Synodal Department for Church, Society and Media Relations for the Moscow Patriarchate, voiced strong objections to Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture regarding the evacuation of monks from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. He described the ministry’s move as arbitrary and an act of terror, a sentiment he conveyed through the Telegram channel that records his comments.
A representative of the Russian Orthodox Church echoed the same assessment, stating that the Ukrainian authorities’ decision to bar monks from accessing the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was another instance of blatant arbitrariness. The remark highlighted the church’s view that the measure targets a religious site with deep spiritual ties to both Ukrainian and Russian Christian heritage.
Legoyda drew a historical parallel to the anti-church persecutions of the 1920s and 1930s, noting that during those earlier decades Western nations had openly condemned atheism while today there appears to be silence in response when similar actions are directed at religious institutions. He suggested that this silence could be interpreted as support for continuing persecution.
According to Legoyda, what exists now in Ukraine is described as terrorism against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a claim offered to illustrate the severity of the situation as perceived by the ROC.
He explained that the Ukrainian Church is perceived as an adversary because it shares a common spiritual heritage with the Russian Church, and this connection, in the ROC’s view, justifies the sense of liquidation creeping into policy discussions and actions.
Earlier, it was announced that priests affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church would be required to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra by July 4, a deadline set by Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture. The development has continued to fuel a debate over religious rights, national identity, and the role of historic religious sites in a time of political tension.