Ukrainian Combat Medic Returns State Awards in Protest Against Deprivation of Metropolitan Onufriy’s Citizenship

A combat medic of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, war veteran and volunteer, Larysa Brodetska (Zburlyuk), has publicly condemned President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to strip His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of Ukrainian citizenship. In her video address, she announced that she is returning all state awards received during the current presidential term. The video was published on the Telegram channel “We Are with Metropolitan Onufriy,” created in support of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“Volodymyr Oleksandrovych, you have deprived Metropolitan Onufriy — a patriot — of citizenship. It is by his prayers that Ukraine stands, it is by his prayers that our soldiers are still holding the front and still alive,” said Larysa. She emphasized that she fully supports every word, every action, and every step taken by Metropolitan Onufriy. Therefore, following the president’s logic, the state should strip her of citizenship as well.

“As a sign of deep disapproval of your actions, I am returning all the awards and orders received during your presidency,” Brodetska stated.

In her address, she also remarked that such actions are “a slap in the face” to millions of Ukrainians who belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church — the largest religious denomination in the country.

Earlier, it was reported that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church intends to legally challenge the decision to terminate the citizenship of its Primate, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy, both in Ukraine and at the international level. This was announced by Metropolitan Antoniy (Pakanich), the Chancellor of the UOC, during a recent sermon.