Yesterday, Ukraine managed to exchange one collaborator of the UOC (MP) for 101 prisoners of war, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence, Andriy Yusov, said during a telethon, UP reports.
"Yesterday, to return our guys, at the request of the other side and with his own consent, one collaborator, a so-called clergyman of the Moscow Patriarchate, who assisted the occupiers, leaked various information, helped to hold so-called pseudo-elections, was handed over. The Russian Federation invited him, Ukraine did not object, he was all the more for it, and it helped bring our defenders home. This work will continue," he said.
According to journalists, it is the rector of the St. Kazan parish of the Horlivka diocese of the UOC (MP), Mykola Zirka.
Yesterday, the Office of the Prosecutor General reported that the rector of the "Kazan" diocese was found guilty of collaboration and sentenced to seven years in prison and confiscation of property. In May 2022, the rector of this parish colluded with the Russian army and, on their instructions, organized a meeting of residents in a local club.
As part of yesterday's exchange, Ukraine returned 101 people: 100 militaries and one civilian - the first deputy mayor of Enerhodar. The majority of the militaries are defenders of Mariupol, there are also defenders from Kherson and Kyiv areas.