РПЦ subjugated eight Ukrainian dioceses in the occupied territories, - Єленський

The Russian Orthodox Church has transferred under its direct control eight dioceses in the Crimea, as well as in the east and south of Ukraine - priests who resisted such a decision were punished.

This was stated by the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience Віктор Єленський in an interview with Espreso.

"РПЦ анексувала вісім єпархій у Криму та на сході й півдні України й перевела їх під пряме підпорядкування собі. Тих, хто опирався, карали, часом дуже жорсток", — наголосив Єленський.

As an example, he cited the case of the priest Костянтина Максимова from Tokmak. According to the head of ДЕСС, he was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment for refusing to go under the direct subordination of Patriarch Kirill to Metropolitan Onufry.

Єленський noted that the prescription of ДЕСС requires the Kyiv Metropolis not to recognize the annexation of these dioceses, along with other measures to eliminate ties with РПЦ.

At the same time, the Kyiv Metropolitanate refused to comply with the order, and the dispute between it and ДЕСС passed into the judicial plane.

See also: "Ми не КНДР, щоб поліцейськими операціями позбавляти людей права молитися",Єленський about ДЕСС УПЦ МП