Ukraine hands over priest from Russia-linked church in recent prisoner swap
Metropolitan Ionafan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), who was convicted in Ukraine for justifying Russia’s armed aggression, has gone to Russia as part of the latest prisoner swap. He has already met with Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) Patriarch Vladimir Gundyayev (Kirill).
Source: Andrii Kovaliov, official representative of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Facebook; BBC News Russia; ROC website
Details: Kovaliov reported that Metropolitan Ionafan is now in Russia and that 90 Ukrainian prisoners had returned to Ukraine. He said Ionafan agreed to the exchange on 10 April this year.
The Russian Orthodox Church reported on 25 June that the 75-year-old metropolitan had been released on 22 June "at the request of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus, as a result of negotiations".
Another report from the ROC said that Patriarch Kirill had met with Ionafan and awarded him the ecclesiastical Order of St Sergius of Radonezh, first class. The ROC had announced the honour at the end of January 2024 as a birthday present for Ionafan.
Background:
- In August last year, a Ukrainian court found Ionafan, who headed the Tulchyn Diocese of the UOC (Vinnytsia Oblast), guilty of justifying, legitimising and denying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and glorifying its participants. He was sentenced to five years in prison with confiscation of property.
- In 2023, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspended the citizenship of 13 UOC-MP bishops and priests, including Metropolitan Ionafan (born Anatolii Yeletskykh).
- Leaflets and texts with pro-Russian propaganda messages and calls to overthrow the constitutional order were found in Ionafan's possession during searches.
- 90 Ukrainian soldiers returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity on 25 June. The Russians claim that an equal exchange of 90 for 90 took place.
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