Warrior to OCU raider Hryshchuk: Instead of raiding, come to fight with us
A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) called on Hryshchuk to stop provoking believers and seizing churches, and to go to the front.
Dmytro Kopcha, a serviceman of the 65th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, made a public statement regarding the conflict that occurred in the village of Verkhni Stanivtsi, where his family lives.
In his emotional address, Kopcha spoke about the actions of the OCU clergyman Hryshchuk, who organized an attempted church seizure and an attack on UOC believers.
"While I’ve been fighting against the Russians for three years, there’s such a character, Hryshchuk from the OCU. I don’t want to express any offence to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, but this person is simply an arrogant provocateur who is now fighting against Orthodox Christians," the serviceman said.
According to Kopcha, Hryshchuk hires "gangs of young men" armed with angle grinders and screwdrivers to seize the church, claiming he intends to "read a prayer at 11 PM". During one of the incidents, Kopcha's wife and sister-in-law were physically injured.
"My wife and my sister-in-law were beaten. The forehead was smashed; the lip was split. What is this? What kind of lawlessness is this?" Kopcha exclaimed.
He emphasized that he maintains a neutral position on interfaith issues but considers violence and provocations unacceptable, especially during a time of military conflict.
"He’s dividing up the church because he feels like it: he came, he wanted it, and broke it down, claiming he has some documents. Is this Christian? I don’t understand. Is this how a priest should teach people to behave like him? He himself put on a tracksuit and went with that gang," Kopcha said indignantly.
"We have an escalation at the front. My comrades and I risk our lives every time we get to our position, not knowing if we’ll survive, and he decided to divide and take something. What is this?" the Ukrainian soldier asked.
Kopcha called on Hryshchuk to direct his energy towards defending the country, noting that there is a shortage of personnel at the front due to casualties and discharges for health reasons.
"I see he has so much strength and energy, let him come to us. We’ll find him a place here, to protect our country," the serviceman stated.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that among the bandits who were beating UOC believers in Bukovyna, an OCU clergyman was spotted.
