Lawyer speaks out about pastor who “blesses” TRC officers
A lawyer pointed to what he called the double standards of a pastor who wishes TRC officers success in “catching lots of draft dodgers” while his own sons and sons-in-law are in the United States.
Lawyer Serhii Kostyra drew attention to Mariupol pastor Hennadii Mokhnenko’s support for TRC officers engaged in the forced mobilization of citizens, while, according to Kostyra, his own sons are living in the United States and he has been acquiring luxury real estate during the war.
The lawyer commented on a video posted online in which Mokhnenko, after being stopped by military enlistment officers, expressed his full support for their actions. “Guys, I bless you in your work,” the pastor told the TRC officers. “Thank you for what you’re doing, and I hope you catch lots of draft dodgers today.”
Kostyra, however, claimed that behind this public show of support for the authorities lie personal gain and deception of believers. “Hena Mokhnenko openly supports the TRC’s actions on his blog, but he has hidden his children and sons-in-law in the United States,” the lawyer said.
According to Kostyra, Mokhnenko acquired expensive real estate in return for assisting military enlistment offices. The lawyer said the pastor became the owner of three luxury land plots in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, registering them in the names of relatives who had left the country, and also purchased several apartments in western Ukraine.
The lawyer also recalled allegations of an offense against minors that he said had been concealed by the community’s leadership. In August 2022, suspicions of child sexual abuse within Mokhnenko’s religious organization became known to its leadership, but the matter was handled internally without parishioners being informed, leaving other children potentially at risk.
Mokhnenko had previously drawn attention for controversial activities involving children. As the UOJ reported, he sent minors from his shelter to dig trenches and restore military fortifications.
