Ukraine once again exchanges arrested priest of the Moscow Patriarchate for prisoners of war

Ukraine once again exchanges arrested priest of the Moscow Patriarchate for prisoners of war

The request came from the Russian side. It is likely to be Mykola Zirka.

Andrii Yusov, a representative of Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine, stated this on the telethon.

The priest, who is suspected of collaborationism, expressed a desire to leave Ukraine. Ukraine did not object to such an exchange.

This person helped conduct the so-called "elections" in the Donetsk region, Yusov said.

This is the charge brought by the SBU against the parson of one of the Moscow Patriarchate parishes of the Lyman community (Donetsk region). Law enforcement officers claim that he facilitated the "election" of the head of the temporary occupation administration of the village of Yarova.

On February 16, the day the exchange took place, the Security Service announced the court's verdict in this case — seven years in prison.

On September 30, 2022, the Office of the Prosecutor General announced the suspect in this case. Law enforcement officials said it is about the parson of the "Kazan" parish of the Yarova village, Horlivka eparchy of the MP.

The Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations indicates that Mykola Zirka was the head of this parish. Apparently, he was the one to be exchanged.

It will be recalled that on December 14, 2022, Ukraine exchanged the MP priest for a US citizen Suedi Murekezi.