UOC hierarch criticizes rocket attack on Sumy

The hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Yevlogy of Sumy and Okhtyrka, criticized the rocket attack on Sumy on April 13, 2025, which killed more than thirty residents of the city. During his sermon, the bishop called the event “a crime of Russian atheists.”

«Today, my dear brothers and sisters, we have again and again witnessed a terrible lawlessness against our churches, our city and our Ukraine. Our service today was held during the explosions. Russian missiles flew into the center of the city, not only destroying buildings but also killing people. What surprises me about this Russian war against us is that people who call themselves believers in Russia, who should have been the first to condemn this bloodshed, not only did not condemn it, they called it a holy war. What a shame for these high priests and priests. We categorically condemn this latest crime of Russian atheists, people of no faith, because believers do not do this. These are people who have lost their faith, who have lost their conscience,» — said Metropolitan Yevlogy.

Earlier, the Diocese of Sumy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported that the Church organized the evacuation of residents of the border areas of Sumy region who suffer from shelling, which has become more frequent as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The diocese states that the evacuation to peaceful regions of Ukraine will be free of charge.