Zelenskyy: We will not let Russia steal any valuables from our Lavras

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: screenshot of Zelenskyy's YouTube channel

On March 12, 2023, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would not allow Russia to steal any valuables from the Ukrainian Lavra. The President of Ukraine said this in an evening address posted on his official YouTube channel.

“There is a movement this week to strengthen our spiritual independence. Society sees it. And I see the Ukrainians’ approval of these steps of ours – quite legal,” Zelenskyy said, apparently referring to the decision of the Ministry of Culture to expel the UOC from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

The President promised to continue “this movement”: “We will not allow a terrorist state to have at least some opportunity to manipulate the spirituality of our people, destroy Ukrainian shrines – our Lavras – or steal any valuables from them.”

Zelenskyy is sure that such actions of the state will help win the war and maintain unity.

“We can win. We can! If we protect our unity, each other and our state. I thank everyone who cares about Ukraine and Ukrainians! I thank everyone who cares about our unity – and the unity of the world for the sake of Ukraine!” the head of state noted.

Earlier, Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian would no longer be alienated in the Lavra.

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