In order to raise the low rating and enlist the support of nationalists, the authorities may aggravate relations with the UOC, the church historian believes.

The authorities may intensify the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the near future with a view to raising their critically low rating and for the sake of supporting nationalists, church historian, Vladislav Petrushko, professor at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University for the Humanities, said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

He notes a change in the policy of Vladimir Zelensky, who is increasingly leaning towards the position of his predecessor in relation to the UOC. “What we have seen in recent months clearly indicates that Zelensky, who initially deviated from the course embarked by ex-President Poroshenko towards the Church, seems to be making a U-turn. Perhaps, it is done for the sake of some illusory hope to seize the electorate that followed Poroshenko against the backdrop of his extremely low rating,” Petrushko said.

Among manifestations of these actions, according to the expert, are possible attempts to seize the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra in Western Ukraine, where there are a lot of supporters of nationalists. However, the expert believes they will not dare to seize the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. “Attempts to seize the Lavra in Pochayiv in Western Ukraine may be successful, where there are more nationalists, although there were always people around the Lavra who were ready to defend it. Well, as regards Kyiv, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, I think this trick will not work, and the people will come out to defend the shrine, as it was in the past,” said the professor.

As the UOJ reported, Zelensky took Poroshenko’s stance on the UOC under US pressure, according to political analyst Mikhail Pogrebinsky.