Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate clergyman who blessed Russian troops during occupation of Izium was exposed

Law enforcement services in Kharkiv Oblast uncovered the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) clergyman who publicly justified Russian armed aggression against Ukraine. Source: press service of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office, source of Ukrainska Pravda in law enforcement The source of Ukrainska Pravda reported that this clergyman is Mykhailo Pimashyn (Matvii), vicar of the all men Monastery Honouring the Pishchansk Icon of the Mother of God of the Izium diocese of the UOC-MP.

During the temporary occupation of Izium district in Kharkiv Oblast in August 2022, the 36-year-old clergyman voluntarily supported the Russian occupiers and called upon other local residents to "follow his example".

He gave interviews to Russian propagandistic media outlets, in which he justified and denied the Russian armed aggression.

The investigation reports that Pimashyn publicly claimed that a local religious community is subordinate exclusively to the Russian Orthodox Church. In connection with this, the clergyman, on his own initiative, wrote a letter to an associate of Moscow Patriarch Cyril with a request to send "humanitarian aid" to the occupied part of the oblast.

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Further on, Pimashyn used Russian goods to ensure the local population's loyalty to the occupiers.

In addition to this, he gave interviews to the propagandists of the Kremlin, who came to the occupied Izium, numerous times. In his comments he discredited the Ukrainian troops, denied the facts of the Russian aggression and treated the killed occupiers as heroes. On the ground of collected evidence, Pimashyn was served with a notice of suspicion for justifying the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine with the use of the media.

The restriction measure is being determined. All circumstances of the crime are being established. Pimashyn faces a sentence of up to eight years in prison.

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