Senior soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmitry Rastorguev recorded a video message in which he recalled that the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry, on the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, blessed the Ukrainians to go to defend the territorial integrity of the country.  The video was published on the YouTube channel of the Vinnitsa diocese of the UOC.

The serviceman noted that, together with his brother, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the first day of the invasion.

“I have a family – two children, a wife, a good job, a good team, and I left all this because I love my country, I love Ukraine, for me it is the best.  I also love my faith, my Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose Primate is His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry.  He blessed all Ukrainians to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine.  So please calm down.  And if someone is guilty of something, if there are collaborators who do not fulfill the blessing of the Primate, then these are criminals.  They have names and surnames, and they need to be judged and punished for this.  But faith should not suffer from this,” Dmitry said.

“We need help!  And then we will return and discuss all the issues,” said the soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and called on everyone to unite for victory.