The vicar of the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra, Metropolitan Vladimir, commented on the video footage made by Hromadske journalists on the territory of the monastery, and told why such statements are being recorded. The Bishop’s commentary was published on April 24, 2023 in the Dozor telegram channel on the “Pershyi Kozatskyi”, reports the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

“From the interview it is clear that the grandmothers giving interviews are completely cut off from objective reality. The brethren of the Lavra do not share the assertions of people who speak out against our state and have nothing to do with the monastery. Why do journalists interview random people, cropping their videos and covering only the answers they need? Probably to provoke people into intolerance towards each other,” said Metropolitan Vladimir.

The bishop admits that “most likely, this is another order aimed at provoking citizens and violating the stability in our state, already damaged by the war.”