OCU “priest” urges SBU to punish local community head for backing UOC faithful

Volodymyr Pedko. Photo: screenshot from Pedko’s video address on Facebook

Volodymyr Pedko, an OCU cleric from Cherkasy known for his raider-style activities, has called on the Security Service of Ukraine to investigate Bohdan Shkarbuta, head of the Moshny territorial community. The representative of Dumenko’s structure made the demand in a video address published on his Facebook page.

The cause of the “priest’s” outburst was the funeral service for a fallen Ukrainian soldier conducted by UOC cleric Archpriest Oleh Markhylevych. According to Pedko, the head of the local community is allegedly lobbying for the interests of a “Moscow priest” and personally persuading the families of fallen heroes not to refuse the services of the canonical Church.

In harsh terms, the radical attacked the official’s position, claiming that he has “neither fear of God nor conscience.” Pedko was particularly incensed that Shkarbuta allegedly describes the OCU structure as “bandits” who are turning people against UOC priests that have served in the village for decades.

“It seems to me that this person, the head of the Moshny territorial community, is in dire need of attention from the SBU and law enforcement,” the OCU representative declared, in effect demanding reprisals against the local leader for respecting the rights of believers.

He also openly threatened the villagers with coercive action: “After the holidays, we will come to Moshny and sort out where the Ukrainian Church is and where Moscow’s lackeys are.”

Pedko accompanied his video appeal with a written post in which he called UOC priests “whitewashed tombs” and accused them of “subversive activity.” At the same time, he deliberately ignored the fact that burial in the canonical Church was the explicit wish of the fallen soldier’s family – a family the “activist” did not dare attack openly.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that OCU representatives were outraged that the community in Lepliavo removed its property before a seizure.

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