The “religious affairs officer” at the Office of the President turned out to be a long-time hater of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Vita Titarenko, newly appointed by the Office of the President of Ukraine as head of projects in the field of culture, history, and religion, turned out to be a long-time hater of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Telegram channel “First Cossack” published a journalistic investigation reporting that Titarenko often and groundlessly criticized the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, approved of raider seizures of UOC churches and the demolition of the Desyatinna Church in Kyiv. The information was published on the “First Cossack” channel.

“Titarenko, like Yelensky, began and gained experience in the godless Soviet era. She has held an anti-church position consistently and for a long time. Her participation in the events surrounding the barbaric seizure by raiders of the ancient church of the UOC in the village of Ptycha in the Rivne region is a case in point. At that time, Titarenko took an active part in downplaying the crime and tried to pass off the thuggish attack as a “conflict between believers.” The Soviet religious scholar’s position on the UOC is obvious: she quotes her “friend” who claims that belonging to the Church is ‘disgusting’ and “criminal.” Titarenko took an active part in the creation of the OCU and continues to lobby for this structure. For her participation in “begging” for the Tomos for Epiphany’s structure, Dumenko awarded the religious scholar a diploma. The religious scholar rejoiced at the destruction of the UOC’s Desyatinna Church in Kyiv”,  – the investigation notes.

Separate attention was paid to Titarenko’s attitude towards the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The official predictably criticizes the presence of the UOC in the monastery, calling the monks of the Church “occupiers.”

“Her attitude towards the occupation of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra reserve is very revealing. Titarenko compares the brethren of the monastery, who restored the monastery and revived monastic life in it, to invaders. She calls the Lavra a “national shrine,” “state property,” and considers the destruction of monastic life to be a “restoration of justice.” So, what do we have? Titarenko consistently incites hatred against believers and clergy of the UOC, rejoices in the state expropriation and destruction of shrines, and lobbies for the OCU. A complete set of modern Bolsheviks,” – added ”First Cossack.”

Earlier, we reported that the Office of the President of Ukraine announced the appointment of a project manager in the field of culture, history, and religion. The position was filled by Vita Titarenko, Doctor of Philosophy and Associate Professor at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It is also reported that Titarenko is a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.