Russian occupiers continue war with God; priest killed by shelling in Luhansk Oblast

Valentyna Romanenko — Wednesday, 4 May 2022, 12:01

The Russians have shelled the village of Mykhailivka, near the city of Rubizhne, Luhansk Oblast. A priest has been killed.

Source: Serhii Haidai, Head of Luhansk Oblast Military Administration 

Direct quote: "The Russian army is continuing its contest with God. Since the end of February, at least 15 religious buildings in Luhansk Oblast have been damaged by Russian shelling, and members of the clergy have also been wounded.

"Yesterday, the orcs opened fire on villages near Rubizhne. Parfenii, a priestmonk who was acting abbot of the St Illia monastery in the village of Varvarivka and priest of the Church of St Theodosius of Chernihiv in Mykhailivka [churches in the North Donetsk Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate - ed.], has died of shrapnel wounds. 

Why it matters: The Russian occupiers have repeatedly made a mockery of the assumption among followers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate that Russia would not shell churches. Meanwhile, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarch Kirill, also known as Vladimir Gundyaev, is claiming falsely that "Russia has never attacked anyone".