Head of OCU discusses with Volodymyr Zelenskyy issues of "spiritual security" and countering Russian influence

on January 13, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) to discuss church-state partnership and national security. The head of the OCU, Epiphany Dumenko, emphasized the need to ensure the «spiritual security» of the country and to counteract the use of religious structures for the purposes of hybrid aggression.

In his speech , Dumenko characterized the state and religious organizations as strategic partners working for the benefit of society. Among the key areas of cooperation were international activities and «advocacy of Ukraine.» Particular emphasis was placed on the fight against the «influence of the Russian Federation,» which, according to the head of the OCU, is trying to use the organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine to achieve its political and military goals.

Earlier, during a visit to Istanbul, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to discuss humanitarian issues and prospects for the development of the Ukrainian church. In addition, the head of state invited the hierarch to visit Ukraine.