The ROC responded to 30 hierarchs of the Moscow church who opposed the removal of the Donetsk hierarch.

The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) stated that it is not canceling the decision to dismiss Metropolitan Ilarion of Donetsk, which was made in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. This response was given by the organization to the appeal of the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) on this issue. The ROC noted that decisions on the management order of dioceses in occupied territories are made under special conditions of military operations.

The head of the ROC press service praised Ilarion for his activities, but stated that the dismissal is not canceled since the current situation in the occupied territories requires changes. He also noted that the ROC Synod's decision on this issue was made back in 1920.

In their appeal, 29 hierarchs of the UOC MP condemned the ROC's decision concerning the dismissal of hierarchs in the occupied territories. It is worth noting that the decision to dismiss Ilarion was made on October 24, 2024.