Russia losing battle for souls of Ukrainians - expert on autocephaly to Ukraine

Director of Ukraine's National Institute for Strategic Studies Rostyslav Pavlenko wrote this on his Facebook page.

"The exarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarch said at a meeting with President [Petro] Poroshenko that the process of obtaining autocephaly (independence) by the Orthodox Church in Ukraine has entered the finish line. Among all the announcements, predictions and prejudices that have recently grown, one cannot forget about the main thing. Building an independent Orthodox Church in Ukraine it is a voluntary process in which all interested persons take part and where there is no place for violence, intimidation, and provocations," Pavlenko said.

He noted that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church discuss and understand this.

This issue is also discussed at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate as in this church there are many of those who wish to build a new independent Ukrainian church peacefully and together. "Others will be able to remain in unity with Moscow as much as they wish," Pavlenko added.

According to him, Russian aggressors understand that they are losing the battle for the hearts and souls of Ukrainians, and they will resist as much as they can.

"Unfortunately, we have seen, see and we will how they use lies, but the lie is not the only weapon of the 'hybrid' arsenal. There is also hatred, impatience, intolerance ... everything that provocateurs can use," Pavlenko said.

So now, on the finish line, everyone needs to be especially vigilant, he said.

"We cannot allow the enemy to split us, because this had happened before. We will not allow this to happen this time," Pavlenko said.

op