For over a week, the Russians held captive abbot Platon Dalnyshchuk, who continues to serve in the Holy Trinity Church in the occupied territories of the Dolmativ community in the Kherson region. Other members of the clergy believe that the release of Father Platon was fueled by the publicity of his case.
Secretary of the Kherson Diocese of the UOC-KP Ioan Zamaraev reported this on his Facebook page.
"Thank God, Father Platon was released yesterday immediately after our publication. He is alive and relatively healthy. I haven't been able to contact him by phone yet. Be that as it may, our prayers and public response are a significant factor,” Zamaraev said.
According to him, Platon Dalnyshchuk was abducted by the Russians on January 26 and taken to an unknown destination. Zamaraev also admits that the abducted priest was tortured.
“In such cases, the abducted are placed in “torture” cells and subjected to terrible torments,” Ioan Zamaraev summed up his post.
It is also noted that Father Platon could have suffered for his pro-Ukrainian position due to the denunciation of one of the local collaborators.