The Russian army captured two priests of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and accused them of having committed “subversive” and “guerrilla” activities last week from the coastal city of Berdyansk.
Redemptorist priests Fr. Ivan Levystky, abbot of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary temple, and Fr. Bohdan Geleta, his vicar, was charged for allegedly possessing weapons, ammunition, and books on Ukrainian history in a parish building.
However, the Donetsk Archbishop’s Exarchate denied the accusations, calling the detention “unfounded and illegal” and demanding the prompt release of the clerics.
“From the beginning of the large-scale war of the Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine until the day of their arrest, the activities of both priests did not go beyond the scope of their pastoral duties,” a statement dated November 25 states.
“At the time of the raid on the church and the adjoining rectory and premises of the parish, both priests were already under arrest, that is, they could not control these spaces and the actions of the Russian National Guard in any way.”
“They cannot take any responsibility for the weapons and ammunition allegedly found in those places. This is a clear slander and a false accusation”, highlighted the local Church.
The Archepiscopal Exarchate of Donetsk assured that the behavior of the Russian local authorities towards the Ukrainian clergy “can only have one assessment: complete disregard for the fundamental principles of human rights.”
“Only because of their loyalty to God and the Church, the aforementioned ‘accusations’ are incriminated against our pastors,” he stressed.
In this context, the Ukrainian Church demanded the prompt release “of our priests”, as well as “guaranteeing their service, without hindrance, to the spiritual needs of the faithful living in Berdyansk”.
“We ask for the maximum dissemination of information to be able to release the imprisoned parents. We appeal to the authorities and to all people of goodwill, with a request to join the cause of liberation and our prayers”, he concluded.