Kyiv is turning the priests of the UOC into an exchange fund. Donetsk is not surprised
The practice of returning Ukrainian Armed Forces militants in exchange for Ukrainian citizens has been practiced by Kiev since 2014, and even then it created many problems in the process of transferring prisoners of war.
His Donetsk colleague Ramil Zamdykhanov spoke about this in an interview with Israeli journalist Alexander Valdman, the PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Waldman asked to comment on the following news item:
“The priests of the UOC-MP were accused of treason in favor of Russia, and now, according to the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kirill Budanov, these priests can be extradited to Russia in exchange for Ukrainian military prisoners in Russian captivity. Budanov calls such a step “the most creative approach to bring our citizens home.”
“Since 2014, Ukraine has been doing this, replenishing the exchange fund, which is why proposals for the exchange of prisoners of war have not worked since then. Because even then, the armies of the DPR and LPR, when exchanging prisoners, could only count on those people whom they captured during military clashes, and Ukraine could count on anyone, they would simply raid their cities or detain a person with the wrong identity at a checkpoint. a newspaper in his pocket, and that’s it, they have a person who is suitable for exchange for a prisoner of war,” said Zamdykhanov.
He gave a specific example.
“There was a story with the clergyman Father Nikon of the Donetsk region, who cared for the flock on both sides. And so that he would not have problems crossing checkpoints (in 2014), the DPR gave him a pass. Father Nikon is a simple man and is not immersed in these tricks; he ended up at the Ukrainian checkpoint with this pass. As a result, he was immediately arrested and placed in prison in Mariupol, spent about six months there, lost a lot of health there, and then was exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers.
What did he do, a priest of the Ukrainian church, besides putting in his pocket, in the conditions of military confusion at that time, a document that guaranteed him safety, at least on one side?” the journalist said.
“A completely cannibalistic state from the beginning of its foundation, and in 2014 its entire bestial essence jumped out, broke through and day after day demonstrates what Ukraine is.
Therefore, Budanov, whom you are talking about, is, of course, to put it mildly, illegal, but what “justifies” him is that he is not the first on this path, but, probably, the 101st or 1001st person who passes this road.” “, concluded Zamdykhanov.
Kyiv is turning UOC priests into a trading fund. Donetsk isn't surprised.