"Cyborg" details how UOC organized a prisoner exchange

The prisoner exchange in the "306-for-74" format was due to the active participation of the hierarchs of the UOC and personally His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine. This was reported by the commander of the 1st company of the 90th separate landing assault battalion of the 81st airmobile brigade, which in 2014 participated in the battles for the Donetsk airport, the head of the public organization "Protection and Justice" Sergei Biloshitsky on the air of the CK1 channel.

Biloshitsky said that he and his colleague, the volunteer Viktor Kononenko, initiated the idea of a prisoner exchange and appealed for support to Metropolitan Nikodim of Zhitomir and Novograd-Volynsky, and, having received his blessing, went to Kiev to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine.

According to him, many hierarchs of the UOC participated in the process: both the Primate and the Chancellor of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony of Borispol and Brovary, Archbishop Clement of Nezhin and Priluki, Bishop Viktor Baryshevsky and other bishops.

He explained that the Primate headed the negotiations on behalf of the UOC. "His Beatitude Onufry is everything, as a leader, he took the lead, he did everything nicely. This proves once again that this man is not just popular among us, the flock, but he is one of the world's top ten powerful monks," he said.

He also explained that earlier some users of social networks expressed dissatisfaction that the "cyborgs" in gratitude for the release of Taras Kolody gave the Primate the flag as a gift with the signatures of fighters of the 90th separate airmobile battalion. "The flag is not worth what His Beatitude Onufry has done to date. Everyone who said something to me – I read the Bible, I forgive everyone," he said.

Earlier, Archbishop Clement of Nezhin and Priluki reported that the UOC, taking the most active part in the exchange of prisoners, distances itself from the political component of this process.

The prisoner exchange took place on December 27 in the "306-for-74" format.

Read also

14th Meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops Concludes in Colorado

Hierarchs gathered in Denver from Nov. 6-8, celebrating Vespers and Divine Liturgy and holding discussions on significant topics like the ongoing convert surge.

Fr. Gabriel Bunge: From Benedictine Monk to Orthodox Hermit

Steeped in the writings of Evagrius Ponticus, Swiss Benedictine Gabriel Bunge converted to Russian Orthodoxy in 2010 and became Schiarchimandrite Gabriel, guiding souls through prayer and patristic wisdom from his Alpine skete.

Abp. Elpidophoros Honored at Record-Breaking Gala

Organizers hailed the milestone as a testament to unity, with a 25% increase over last year's giving.

Greek Abbot: LGBT Ideology Signals Antichrist's Approach

Fr. Dositheos told the UOJ that imposing LGBT ideology through education is a "war against God," signals the Antichrist's approach, and surpasses Sodom's depravity, urging repentance and a return to Orthodox roots.

Abp. Elpidophoros "Excited" about Orthodox-Miaphysite Dialogue

At Brookline conference, Archbishop Elpidophoros claimed that Orthodox and Miaphysites simply express the same beliefs in different ways.

Catholic Bishops Oppose Trump's Threat to Invade Nigeria

Abp. Ignatius Kaigama rejects U.S. President Trump's threat of airstrikes to protect Nigerian Christians, warning it would harm Christian-Muslim coexistence and urging diplomatic support, funding disruptions, and security training instead.