Russia and Ukraine exchange arrested priests
Russia and Ukraine have made an extremely rare move by exchanging detained priests. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that two Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priests, who had been held in Russian-controlled areas of the country, were now back on Ukrainian-controlled territory. The release of the priests, who were arrested in November 2022, was made possible through the mediation of the Vatican.
Russia, in turn, reported that a high-ranking Ukrainian Orthodox cleric, Metropolitan Ionafan, as well as two other priests, had been handed over to Moscow. Metropolitan Ionafan was sentenced to five years in prison in Ukraine in August of the previous year for justifying Russia's invasion of the country.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church close to the Moscow Patriarchate has distanced itself from Moscow officially since the beginning of the Russian offensive. Ukrainian authorities continue to accuse it of pro-Russian positions and interference. On the Russian side, the orthodox church justifies the offensive in the neighboring country and supports the Kremlin.
On Tuesday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 90 prisoners each. Representatives from both sides also held direct talks. Both sides spoke about "possible options for the return of currently detained civilians" in detention centers, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatjana Moskalkova announced subsequently. The priests who were exchanged were apparently among these civilians.
Ukraine has expressed gratitude towards the Vatican for facilitating the release of the two Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priests, who had been held in Russian-controlled areas during the Ukraine war. Russia's actions in exchanging detained priests, including Metropolitan Ionafan, serve as a complex political maneuver amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations.
