Expert: Pompeo's visit to Kyiv confirmed that OCU is a US project

Head of the OCU Epiphany (Dumenko) and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. Photo: Michael Pompeo’s Twitter

The whole story with the Tomos and the OCU was initially directed in Washington. The political scientist and political strategist Mikhail Pogrebinsky said this in a comment to the "1Kozak" channel, following the visit of US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to Ukraine.

“This is their project,” the expert explained, speaking about the role of the United States in the creation of the OCU. “And it was not by chance that Pompeo met with the representative of the OCU here, he was even with him at the St. Michael Monastery.”

He recalled that representatives of the US State Department "worked with the Patriarch of Istanbul, they put pressure on the Greek Orthodox Church – this is all known".

According to Pogrebinsky, the public approval by Michael Pompeo of the recognition of the OCU by the Alexandrian and Greek Churches is “just a frank admission that this is their work”.

In his opinion, with their support for the OCU the USA also demonstrate that “Americans don’t care about democracy”, which is about supporting the majority since in Ukraine most believers belong to the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Nevertheless, the expert is convinced that despite the "potential and capabilities of the Americans", "the centre of world Orthodoxy for most Orthodox people will not be in Istanbul”.

As reported, on January 31, 2020, the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had a meeting with the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko, during which the parties reached an agreement on bilateral cooperation.

Read also

OCU parishioners in Kosmach sue each other over December 25 service

An OCU parish in Ivano-Frankivsk Region held no services either on December 25 or on January 7.

Analyst likens Bankova’s case against UOC to Stalin-era repression

Bondarenko said the way the authorities justify pressure on the Church may amount to the rhetoric of the totalitarian era.

Christmas caroling and festive concerts held across UOC eparchies

During the January celebration of the Nativity of Christ, UOC communities across the country sing carols, hold concerts, and organize charitable initiatives.

Primate: God’s law is written in every human heart

During a sermon in Boryspil, His Beatitude reminded the faithful of the meaning of Christmas and the need to live according to God’s commandments.

Media: Transgender-identified inmates sexually assault women in US prisons

Female inmates, who have been interviewed extensively as part of the research on the impact of gender ideology in custodial settings, describe the facility as “a haven for sexual predators who pretend to be transgender.”

Guardian: Bible sales in Britain hit new highs in 2025

Specialists are noting growing interest in Christian texts amid social change and a rethinking of faith’s role in contemporary society.