OCU Leader Claims That Reports of UOC Persecution Are Russian Disinformation
OCU leader Dumenko told Germany’s ambassador that claims of persecution against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church are Russian disinformation and he denied systematic pressure on believers.
KYIV — Epiphany Dumenko, head of the state-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), met in Kyiv with Germany’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Heiko Thoms, where he denied allegations of persecution against believers of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). According to the OCU press service, Dumenko described reports of pressure on UOC clergy and faithful as manipulative and the result of “Russian disinformation.”
Dumenko stated that the discussion focused on what he called violations of the rights of non–Moscow Patriarchate believers in Russian-occupied territories, as well as Ukraine’s law banning religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, which he characterized as a security measure.
He further dismissed the forced seizures of UOC parishes as isolated provocations intended to falsely portray repression. Addressing Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Dumenko emphasized the need to counter alleged Russian influence and pointed to the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches as evidence of religious freedom in Ukraine.
Recently, UOJ posted a video examining the reality of these church seizures and the statistics that are often repeated about them.
Also recently, the UOJ reported that Rep. Luna responded to UOC appeal and vowed action against forced church seizures in Ukraine, while a OCU cleric celebrated the "re-registration" of UOC churches to the OCU.
