Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Ukraine as the region with the greatest religious freedom in part of Europe in a video speech.
He noted that Ukraine has taken a step towards strengthening the spiritual independence of the state, protecting against “Moscow’s religious manipulation.”
“Ukraine is the region with the greatest religious freedom on our side in Europe,” he said in a video message posted on the Telegram channel.
Zelensky added that this freedom has been felt since 1991 and according to him, it will always be so.
On March 10, the directorate of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra reserve announced the termination of the indefinite lease of the UOC from the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and decided that the monks should leave the monastery before March 29.
In turn, Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of one of the first monasteries in Russia and the oldest monastery on the territory of modern Ukraine, called these actions illegal and announced that the brothers refused to leave the monastery.
Vladimir Rogov, leader of the “We are with Russia” movement registeredThat the Kiev authorities persecuted the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, trying to force the Ukrainians to forget their roots.