Political Analyst: "Poroshenko, who calls for banning the UOC, was himself closely tied to the Moscow Patriarchate for years"

The statement by Ukraine’s fifth president, Petro Poroshenko, about the need to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which he called a “structure of the Russian Orthodox Church,” has sparked controversy. Political analyst Petro Oleschuk recalls that in the past, Poroshenko himself “was closely connected with the Moscow Patriarchate” — serving as an altar boy, donating funds to churches, and using church contacts for his political career. This was reported by Telegraf.

According to Oleschuk, Poroshenko “sensed the right political moment” and came out with a loud statement that the UOC “should be recognized as a structure of the Russian Orthodox Church.” The analyst stresses that it was precisely thanks to his affiliation with the UOC that Poroshenko was able to advance in his political career.

He points out that during the presidency of Yanukovych and the premiership of Azarov, Poroshenko actively demonstrated his closeness to the UOC. Online archives still preserve photos of him in church vestments carrying an icon, as well as pictures with UOC hierarchs. This, according to Oleschuk, proves that for Poroshenko, religion has always been a tool of political ambition.

“For Poroshenko, faith was merely an element of a political slogan,” Oleschuk concluded.

It should also be noted that serviceman and public activist Oleksiy “Stalker” criticized former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko for positioning himself as a supporter and benefactor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church until 2018. The serviceman argued that, since Poroshenko once belonged to the UOC, the former president has no right to criticize the current government in its efforts to achieve peace with Russia.