There is 'Rosatom' and there is the Russian Church..." A well-known religious leader addressed the Ukrainians who still have not left the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Moscow Patriarchate is no longer a religious structure, but an ideological one, believes the rector of the Open Orthodox University

The rector of the Open Orthodox University Georgij Kowalenko believes that the Moscow Patriarchate has long ceased to be a religious organization and is instead an ideological structure, akin to 'Rosatom' or 'Rosneft'. He made this statement as part of the 'Needle' project 'Bridges of Ukraine', which is supported by 'Glavkom'.

"The Moscow Patriarchate is, in fact, no longer a religious organization. There is 'Rosatom', 'Rosneft', and there is the Russian Church, which fulfills its ideological function and has conspired up to a holy war and other features of modern national socialism," emphasized the rector of the Open Orthodox University.

According to him, the situation for some priests and hierarchs of the UOC MP in Ukraine is still complicated. They see how an alternative reality and viewpoint are spreading among the Ukrainians who remained in Ukraine or fled before the war and persecution by the Ukrainian government.

"For many priests and hierarchs of the UOC MP in Ukraine, not everything is so clear-cut. We can imagine that this narrative will spread in Europe, and this is said by a person in Ukrainian language with a Ukrainian passport who fled both the war and persecution by the Ukrainian government. This means an alternative reality and viewpoint is being created," remarked Kowalenko.

The rector also pointed out that individuals who previously propagated Russian propaganda in Ukraine and worked in banned media are now actively involved in Orthodox communities abroad.

"We see that people who propagated Russian propaganda in Ukraine and worked in now practically banned media are now in communities abroad. For example, SPZh (Association of Orthodox Journalists - Ed.). Question: What narratives are they spreading?" said Kowalenko.

He also spoke about his experiences during a visit to Lithuania, where the Moscow Patriarchate is active. The rector explained that a priest of the UOC MP goes to the Russian church for Ukrainian refugees and spreads narratives about 'brotherhood' and 'one people', thereby creating an alternative reality.

To remember: Georgij Kowalenko is a former representative of the Moscow Church in Ukraine. Now he is the rector of the Open Orthodox University.

Earlier, Kowalenko noted that the conducting of elections and negotiations has led to the activation of pro-Russian politicians. During this Time, the UOC MP can utilize social networks for its purposes.

According to draft law No. 8371, which was signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the activities of religious organizations that have a leadership center in a country that is acting aggressively against Ukraine, including the Moscow Patriarchate, are prohibited.