Donetsk bishop appeals the Ukrainian government's regarding financial sanctions on area occupied by terrorists

Metropolitan of Donetsk and Mariupol Ilarion appealed to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko requesting that retirees and disabled persons who are living in the Donbass in combat zone not be left without financial resources.

As had been reported, by a decree of 14 November P. Poroshenko put into effect the decision of SNBO according to which the Ukrainian National Bank proposed to stop servicing bank accounts of businesses and residents in the zone of military operations in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces for a month.

"I, as ruling bishop of the Donetsk diocese, along with parishioners and clergy am definitely alarmed by several provisions of the above-mentioned order that restrict a number of civil rights and liberties of the most vulnerable strata of the population, retirees and disabled persons," the letter of the metropolitan to the president says, which was posted Monday on the diocese's website.

Many of them by reason of one or another condition are physically incapable of overcoming bureaucratic formalities for arranging pensions and finances in accordance with the new conditions of the order that threatens their health and very existence, the ruling bishop from the Donbass notes.

Metropolitan Ilarion reminded the head of state that in the circumstances of political crisis and civil confrontation, verging on armed conflict, the Donetsk diocese takes "the evangelical position." "The diocese not only calls for peace and the search for ways to overcome conflicts, but it also cares for captives and prisoners of war and, to the extent possible, participates in charitable activity for the support of needy and disadvantaged residents of the Donbass," the metropolitan writes.

"Fulfilling the ancient right and duty of the church to care for the needs of the poor and orphaned, I appeal to you in the name of the clergy and believers of Donetsk diocese, requesting that you simplify for residents of the region who are involuntary hostages of the conflict the way to get pensions that they deserve because of years of extremely heavy labor," the letter says