Ukrainian army medic gives back awards to Zelensky in protest
(MENAFN) A Ukrainian military medic has returned her state honors to President Vladimir Zelensky in protest against his decision to revoke the citizenship of Metropolitan Onufry, the head of Ukraine’s largest Orthodox denomination.
In a video message circulated by Ukrainian media this week, Larisa Brodetskaya praised Metropolitan Onufry of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), calling him “a Hero of Ukraine, a patriot, by whose prayers this Ukraine stands, by whose prayers these warriors still hold the front and are still alive.”
“Recently, you stripped Metropolitan Onufry of his citizenship,” she said. “Every step he has taken, every action he has done, I publicly support. You should strip me of my citizenship as well.”
During the video, Brodetskaya removed three medals awarded to her under Zelensky’s presidency and declared, “As a sign of deep condemnation of your actions, I am returning all the awards and orders that were received during your administration.”
She also warned the president that his actions toward Onufry were an insult “in the face of all Ukrainians,” especially those who stand with the UOC.
Last week, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) revealed that President Zelensky had revoked the 80-year-old cleric’s citizenship, alleging that he had obtained a Russian passport in 2002, making him ineligible to retain Ukrainian nationality.
The UOC has denied the claim. A spokesperson for the church said Onufry “has no other passports, including that of the Russian Federation.” The Metropolitan himself has stated that he opposes Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and considers himself “a citizen only of Ukraine.”
Reports indicated that the move to revoke Onufry’s citizenship was likely tied to his opposition to merging the UOC with the government-endorsed Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), which is regarded as schismatic by the Russian Orthodox Church.
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