Catholic bishop: Russian occupants do not touch Catholics in Crimea

Ordinary bishop of the Odesa-Simferopol diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Bronislaw Bernacki described the situation in his diocese, especially in Russia-annexed Crimea, informs "Religion in Ukraine" referring to Catholic Media Center.

"There are different opinions in Odessa. In Crimea the situation is rather calm. Russian occupants do not touch the Catholics, while they think what to do with them," he said.

As a positive moment, the bishop noted that the auxiliary bishop of the diocese Jacek Peel "can already leave the peninsula as needed." However, he states that there is no certainty that he will be allowed to enter again but for now the entrance is not prohibited.

Earlier media repeatedly reported harassment of the occupation regime of different religious communities of the peninsula, including Muslims, Roman and Greek Catholics, Jews, Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate and others.