A priest of the OCU, rector of the Open Orthodox University of St Sophia-Wisdom George Kovalenko believes that the fate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate depends on the success of the Armed Forces in waging war.
He said this on the air of Radio NV.
"We see a potentially collaborative entity that is ready to cooperate and try to please any government. On our territory, they are trying to please the Ukrainian authorities. Therefore, probably, their fate depends on the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our success at the frontline," Kovalenko said.
The priest explained that when Russia's political influence weakens in Ukraine, the UOC-MP "begins to mimic".
"[And then the Moscow Patriarchate] first declares itself an Exarchate, next time it's independent, next time it is autonomous, then it's almost autocephalous — it comes up with various options for itself. But when/if Moscow returns to power (as is the case now in the occupied territories, as it was in the 20s, when the Bolsheviks came here, as it was after the year 1944, when Soviet troops entered here), all this independence would completely evaporate and those very people remain bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate," Kovalenko added.
On May 27, the UOC-MP held a Council, which declared "full independence and independence" from the Russian Church and expressed disagreement with the position of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill.