On November 10, 2022, the Golos Ukrainy newspaper published an interview with “Archbishop of Dnipro and Krivoy Rog” Simeon Zinkevich.

In this interview, when asked by a journalist what opportunities the OCU got thanks to the Tomos, the “hierarch” replied that “other jurisdictions that are in Ukraine are dependent on foreign centers, which deprives them of subjectivity.  The OCU is completely independent, which is a plus, and on the pan-Orthodox international arena it is a full-fledged and legitimate Church of Ukraine and acts as a separate entity independent of anyone.  Of course, there are some forces that deny this, but such actions are doomed to failure.  After all, there is no other way than the recognition of our Church by all other local churches, period.”

At the same time, in response to a question about service abroad, Simeon Zinkevich noted that Epiphaniy “applied a corresponding official letter to Patriarch Bartholomew with a request to help resolve this issue.  After all, according to the Tomos of autocephaly, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine does not have the opportunity to establish parishes outside the geographical boundaries of Ukraine.”

“According to the same Tomos, our Primate and Holy Synod have the right to apply to the Ecumenical Patriarch with a request to resolve various issues, such as the issues of spiritual care for refugees,” the “bishop” said.

Zinkevich also added that in the mentioned letter to Bartholomew, “Epiphaniy substantiated everything in great detail, referring to the relevant canons of the Church, and outlined the proposals of our Church for the successful implementation of this mission.  And I think that it will be approved in Constantinople, will be successful and will benefit all our fellow citizens, brothers and sisters of Ukrainians who are now temporarily abroad.”