President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in an evening video message on Sunday, March 12, said that “Ukraine will not allow Russia to have the opportunity to manipulate spirituality and destroy our laurels.” This is reported by the publication zaxid.net.

Thus, he commented on the termination of the agreement, according to which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church leases the premises of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

“There is a movement this week to strengthen our spiritual independence. Society sees it. And I see the approval of the Ukrainians for these steps of ours, which are completely legal. And we will continue our movement. We will not allow a terrorist state to have at least some opportunity to manipulate the spirituality of our people, destroy Ukrainian shrines – our laurels – or steal any valuables from them,” he said.