Zinkevych: UOC reps should be – if not eliminated – then sent for exchange

Mykhailo Zinkevych. Photo: OCU

On January 29, 2026, at an event marking the 118th anniversary of the Battle of Kruty, Mykhailo Zinkevych, OCU “Metropolitan of Volyn and Lutsk”, called for reprisals against those he referred to as “zhduny” ("those waiting") – people allegedly waiting for the arrival of Russian troops.

In his speech, Zinkevych stated directly that clergy are among such people. “Zhduny in Volyn, zhduny in Lutsk, zhduny all over Ukraine. And these zhduny today walk around with blue-and-yellow flags. These zhduny today walk around with various insignia. These zhduny today walk around in cassocks,” the OCU “metropolitan” said.

After that, Zinkevych voiced specific proposals for how such people should be treated: “If we want to live, if you value your life – zhduny must be identified and, at the very least, treated in a Christian way – sent for exchange. If not eliminated, then sent for exchange.”

Zinkevych also mentioned a particular case in Volyn where, according to him, “zhduny, led by the Church, block the road in order not to be mobilized.” Although he did not explicitly name the UOC, the context of his remarks and his reference to “cassocks” points specifically to clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“They will not become different. And those in Russia will not change. Nor will these zhduny who are in Ukraine today,” the OCU “metropolitan” said, stressing that they “teach about forgiveness.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Zinkevych claimed Volyn is “occupied territory” because UOC churches exist there.

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