Who's next? How threats against Dmytruk undermine trust in the authorities

Photo: UOJ

These threats go beyond the notorious "hate speech" that Ukrainians have got accustomed to and represent a dangerous escalation in the ongoing struggle between those who aim to uphold Ukraine's traditional values and those who seek to destroy them. Dmytruk himself believes that "every day in our country, new information attacks unfold. These attacks are not just aimed at tearing our society apart but at completely destroying people's consciousness and reason."

According to the MP, "our people are being turned into a passive mass, easily manipulated whenever necessary." He asserts that "these are not random outbursts or isolated incidents. These are deliberate actions that fit into a broader plan to eliminate anything that doesn’t align with the current agenda pushed by the authorities! This especially affects those who dare to speak out against this agenda or defend the rights of the people."

Essentially, when we talk about the situation with Dmytruk, we must understand that it's not just about the safety of one person – it's about the future of our country, our rights and our society. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is at the heart of this struggle, facing unjust persecution, while the government turns a blind eye to the real threats posed by extremist groups.

Radicals: a real threat to Ukraine

Let's call things by their proper names: those threatening Artem Dmytruk are extremists and blatant provocateurs. These individuals openly incite violence against Dmytruk, even going so far as to call for a "safari" against him and his family. According to Dmytruk himself, Karas, "in his stupidity, decided that I insulted the fighters carrying out operations in the Kursk region! And he called for a hunt on me. He promises that whoever 'puts me in my place' will be a national hero and will face no consequences for it."

This is not just a disturbing example of extremist rhetoric – it is a direct threat to the safety of a public figure. In light of this, we must ask: where is the government? Why have the authorities not taken immediate action against those who openly incite violence?

At the same time, Dmytruk believes that these radicals are not just attacking him – they are attacking the values he stands for. They despise anyone who does not fit into their narrow, hateful worldview, and they are willing to use threats and violence to silence anyone they disagree with. The fact that these people can act so brazenly, with virtually no response from law enforcement, speaks either of the government's impotence or of the direct encouragement of extremism in our country.

These rather disheartening conclusions are prompted by a message on the Telegram channel of the Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak. Instead of calming the radicals, Yermak wrote, "When there are those in Ukraine today who are ready to defend the influence of the Moscow church, beat people, threaten them on social media, all while having the MP status, it is not normal. And this is not about freedom but something else. Such actions should not be done – our society has already passed all tests of unity. There will be no church schism here. Nor will there be any threats."

So, when radicals call for Dmytruk's murder, that's normal, but when Dmytruk writes that he "rides his bike on the Health Route in Odesa every other day" and Karas can come and take a photo with him – that's a threat, and according to Yermak, "not normal". There's nothing more to comment on here.

In any case, as long as radicals are allowed to act with impunity, no one in Ukraine can feel even relatively safe. Moreover, according to MP Dmytruk, "Karas’s publications are further proof of a systematic effort to eliminate dissenters." He believes that "calls to seize shrines, to remove the unwanted—this all indicates the scale and depth of this work," and that "people like Karas, Sternenko, Lachin and others are merely pawns in this game, carrying out the will of the 'greats', who similarly aim to destroy Ukraine and our society."

It is clear that there is a deliberate campaign to undermine democratic rights and freedoms, as well as those who support them, while real threats to our country are being ignored.

Is the government unable to protect its people?

The inability (or unwillingness?) of the Ukrainian government to protect Artem Dmytruk is a striking example of its broader failure – or reluctance – to safeguard its citizens. Despite numerous threats against him, Dmytruk’s pleas for protection have gone unanswered. He has made it clear in one of his public statements that some organised criminal groups have begun plotting an attack on him and his family: “My family and I receive death threats every day!”

However, despite these serious threats, the government has done absolutely nothing. Moreover, even Dmytruk’s request for legally mandated protection as an MP was denied. “When, given the real danger, I wanted to exercise my right to PROTECT myself and my family, I was denied! The refusal was due to pressure from high-ranking state officials and authorities!” wrote the MP.

This situation is not merely an administrative failure; it is a betrayal of the fundamental principles of democracy and citizen security that the state is supposed to uphold. In essence, this is the core function of government.

Yet, instead of addressing the real threats posed by radicals, our government is focusing its energy on banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The most surprising thing is that all of this is justified as a necessity for “national security”, but, as Dmytruk rightly points out, this is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to suppress those who uphold traditional values and disagree with the current political agenda.

Hypocrisy and national security

The argument that the UOC poses a threat to national security is laughable when compared to the government’s inaction regarding the real radicals who threaten to kill an MP. If national security were truly a priority, the government would mobilize all its resources to arrest and hold accountable those who openly incite violence and hatred. Instead, our authorities are focused on pressuring the UOC, the vast majority of whose representatives have done nothing wrong or harmful except serve God and the spiritual needs of millions of Ukrainians.

From this, we can conclude that the actions (and inactions) of the government eloquently reveal its true priorities. By failing to address real threats, the authorities are essentially allowing extremism to thrive, while simultaneously destroying the very institutions that were once the foundation of Ukrainian society and for which people took to Maidan.

What can we do?

What does this mean? It means that the government is betraying its own people. In the face of such betrayal, it becomes clear that we cannot rely on the state institutions that are supposed to protect us. Therefore, we must take matters into our own hands, standing together to defend our faith and our rights.

Artem Dmytruk’s case is not just his battle; it is a battle for everyone who values their faith, beliefs and their right to live without fear of violence and persecution for dissent.

First of all, we need to support God's servant Artemy. He has already faced more threats than an ordinary person can endure, and we must ensure that he does not face this alone. If the authorities cannot protect him, perhaps it is up to fellow believers and volunteers from our Church to step in? Dmytruk should not be left alone, as unfortunately, many of our brothers and sisters currently are, enduring persecution for their stance.

Additionally, if the authorities are not listening to Dmytruk, perhaps his constituents, i.e. the people, need to raise their voices? For example, we could initiate petitions demanding that the radicals threatening Dmytruk be held accountable.

We have every right to demand their immediate arrest and prosecution. Because the law must be applied equally to all, and those who incite violence must be punished.

Conclusions

The situation we face (because if Dmytruk is our brother in Christ, his problems are our problems) is serious, but we are not powerless. By uniting, supporting each other, and refusing to remain silent, we can protect our faith, our rights and our Church. Artem Dmytruk’s struggle is our struggle. His courage in the face of radical threats inspires us and serves as an example for all of us.

We can protect the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and we must demand from the government real actions against those who pose a genuine threat to Ukrainian society, democracy and freedom of speech. Our faith, our freedom and our future depend on this. Do not be indifferent to what is happening because only together can we overcome all the forces of evil that have risen against us, our Church and the future of our beloved country.

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