UOC clergy help release captured "cyborg" Taras Kolodiy

"We received numerous requests of wives and mothers of our Ukrainian captured soldiers, in particular, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry was visited by the delegation of the concerned party. Meeting their request, the Primate of the UOC did all possible to begin the process of liberation of captives through negotiations under the auspices of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Our priests. Our priests are throughout the Donetsk region, and therefore we were able to agree on releasing at least one Ukrainian military man by the holiday of St. Nicholas. It was not an exchange. We just agreed to let him go," he said.

According to the bishop, Kolodiy is now in a state of shock. "He has been captured since 2014, so, of course, now he is in a state of shock, and he still needs to get over all that has happened to him," said Bishop Clement.

The bishop added that soon Kolodiy will arrive in Kiev, where he should receive rehabilitation after the captivity.

Bishop Clement hopes that this will not be the last release of a Ukrainian soldier with the participation of the Church.

"Without human understanding this liberation would be impossible. This is a celebration for all of us, we do not lose hope to have more causes for celebration," he added.

Taras Kolodiy was mobilized in August 2014. First the paratrooper of the 80th airmobile brigade served in Konstantinovka, then defended the Donetsk airport. There a year ago he was captured by DNR militants. Kolodiy is the last of the "cyborgs" that were held in captivity by the militants.

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