The current deputy actively defends the Moscow church
The Moscow church – UOC (MP) – continues to operate in Ukraine. Its interests continue to be advocated for by current members of parliament. And they are far from being former members of the OPFL faction. But let’s take it step by step.
With the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, it became evident that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is one of the tools used by the Kremlin in preparation for the war. It’s no coincidence that collaborators appeared among the UOC (MP), for example, metropolitan of Izyum and Kupyansk Yelysey. And the Moscow Patriarch Kirill, to whom the UOC (MP) continues to be subordinate, personally blessed the destruction of Ukraine and the killing of its citizens.
After this, a significant part of the UOC (MP) dioceses, the largest structural associations of its churches and communities, although not transitioning to the local Orthodox Church of Ukraine, have stopped mentioning the Moscow Patriarch in their services.
Moreover, people themselves united against the Moscow Patriarchate. For instance, this happened in Pryluchchyna. Here, in the village of Lynyvtsi, at a general assembly of the community, a decision was made to transition the Moscow church to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. And in Pryluky, the town’s residents, through the petition mechanism, demanded from the mayor and deputies to prohibit the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate. The corresponding petition quickly gathered the required number of signatures in a few days. However, MP Valeriy Dubil from "Batkivshchyna," known as an advocate for the Moscow Patriarchate, intervened, and the issue remained unresolved.
Valeriy Dubil happily posts photos of the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Pavlo, commonly known as "Pasha-Mercedes," on his Facebook.
Recently, metropolitan Pavlo found himself embroiled in another scandal: a recording of a conversation appeared online where a voice, resembling the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, reprimands a monk for opposing Putin and his aggressive policy. Yet, Pavlo’s defence of Putin is not unusual, as the metropolitan always awaits Putin’s arrival and rejoices at meeting him.
Metropolitan Pavlo and Vladimir Putin
But let’s return to Valeriy Dubil, who spares no effort in lobbying for the Moscow Patriarchate and Russian interests. It was Dubil who, in the interests of the Russian Orthodox Church, pressured a benefactor who built a new church in the village of Krasnyi Kolyadyn in Chernihiv region. This story ended with the benefactor building the church at the community’s request, but Dubil brought in the Moscow Patriarchate.
Dubil also actively attended all major Moscow Patriarchate events in Ukraine. For instance, the religious procession. Here he found himself in the company of pro-Russian politician Yevhen Murayev.
Yevhen Murayev, on the left and slightly behind - Valeriy Dubil
Dubil himself doesn’t seem to be bothered that there is a war, and the Moscow Patriarchate, whose interests he lobbies for, is killing Ukrainians and destroying the country. But representatives of Russia in the Chernihiv region can be calm, as Valeriy Dubil will not allow the closure of the Moscow church. Therefore, it is worth "Batkivshchyna," in which Dubil is playing a role, and competent law enforcement agencies paying attention to the active advocate and defender of the Moscow church.
Anton Chyzhov, Apostrophe