The Orthodox Church of Ukraine urges believers to take part in the vote in the elections to Verkhovna Rada on July 21 and make a responsible choice. This is said in a statement issued by the press service of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

As its authors note, thanks to the support of patriotic, pro-Ukrainian forces it became possible to hold the Unification Council, to obtain the Tomos of autocephaly.

"However, everyone sees how the Russian state uses different forces and occasions to destroy this important asset. Therefore, we have no right to be satisfied with what we have achieved – because we see that everything that has been done needs further powerful support and protection from hostile counteraction.

The society should be clearly aware of the disturbing trend of extensive revenge of the forces that consistently advocated for the return to the old model of actual dependence of the Ukrainian state on the will of the Kremlin, which was repeatedly rejected by our people. Under the slogans of "peace at any cost", these forces want to achieve defeat and surrender of Ukraine to the aggressor. Under the slogans "protection of canonical Orthodoxy" they want to extend further the ideas of "the Russian World" and "the Third Rome" in a religious wrapper. These forces openly set for themselves the goal of opposing the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, influencing the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government – as they did more than once in previous decades, fighting against the approval of the Ukrainian Church autocephaly," the document says.

The OCU also recommends believers to pay attention to the attitude of candidates to traditional family values and not to sell their votes.

"Dear voters! Again, as in the previous elections, the Church reminds us: we must not sell our votes either for money or other material values, or for sweet promises. Make your choice honestly and conscientiously, being guided by common sense and your own mindset.

Our common task is to retain the statehood, independence and unity of the country, to prevent the implementation of intentions to return Ukraine to the Kremlin yoke again.

What will our common future be like actually depends on the vote of everyone, on the decision of the voters on the election day. A conscious, responsible, and honest choice during the vote on July 21 is our contribution to the achievement of victory and peace for Ukraine, building its better future," the clergymen of the OCU emphasize.