OCU spokesman Yevstratiy Zoria accuses UOC-KP leadership of cooperation with Russian special services

The OCU sharply criticized the UOC-KP, accusing its structure of working for the “interests of the Kremlin.” The spokesman for the OCU, Yevstratiy Zoria, called the election of the organization’s new leader part of a special operation by Russian special services aimed at supporting religious centers opposed to the OCU.

On his Telegram channel, Yevstratiy Zorya characterized the new “patriarch” of the UOC-KP, Nikodim Kobzar, as a “jester from Sumy.” According to the representative of the OCU, Kobzar’s main task is to support the activities of the “legendary center” that allegedly contributes to the spread of Russian propaganda. Zorya also emphasized that the name “UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate” is currently legally assigned to the OCU.

In his accusations, the OCU spokesman went even further, calling another functionary, Ioasaf Shibaev, the “original source and godfather” of the current state of the UOC-KP. Zorya suggested that Shibayev could directly cooperate with the FSB, and that the emergence of the new head of the Kyiv Patriarchate after the death of Filaret Denisenko was a planned action. Zorya cited the fact that Nikodim Kobzar served as a priest in the UOC-KP before joining the UOC before joining the Kremlin as an argument in favor of the connection with the Kremlin.

Concluding his statement, the OCU representative called on the FSB to “take over” the new head of the Kyiv Patriarchate. It is worth noting that earlier the OCU expressed disagreement with the position of Filaret Denisenko, who until the end of his life did not consider himself a member of the structure created on the basis of the Tomos.

Earlier it was reported that representatives of the UOC-KP were unable to take part in the official burial ceremony of their spiritual leader Filaret Denisenko, citing pressure and threats from supporters of the OCU. Due to the inability to attend the main burial rite, the newly elected head of the organization, Nikodim, held an alternative funeral service and announced a forty-day period of intense prayers in all communities of the structure.