Russian priests battle Ukrainian drones with prayers – need to know
Need to know
Russian Orthodox priests have reportedly been sent to the frontline city of Perm to fight off Ukrainian drone attacks with prayer services and religious parades
The Orthodox priests hope to stem the number of drones hitting the city of Perm(Image: Perm diocese)
- Russian Orthodox priests are battling Ukrainian drone attacks with the power of prayer in the oil-rich city of Perm.
- The religious leaders have flocked to the city of over one million Russians to organise prayer services following a month of heavy bombing and drone attacks. Perm’s vital oil infrastructure has been heavily damaged, with little to no oil leaving its refineries since Ukraine ramped up attacks.
- The priests have conducted several prayer services designed to defend the beleaguered city against further strikes. Senior clergy have also organised religious parades, carrying the city’s important ‘Mother of God’ artwork around nearby villages, power stations and refineries.
- A church spokesperson said their actions were done “in connection with the tense circumstances in our region”. They added: “Recently, drone attack alerts were issued in our city several times, and to rid ourselves of this affliction, the head of the Perm metropolitanate held a prayer service.”
- The clergy explained they chose the ‘Permskaya’ icon of the Mother of God because “it is locally venerated, it is tied to our region”. They revealed they had tried a similar spiritual defence during the Covid-19 pandemic “to protect residents from the disease.”
- Meanwhile, Russia has been accused of firing dangerously radioactive drones at Ukraine. Tests on drone wreckage from strikes on Ukraine’s Chernihiv Oblast showed elevated radiation levels from uranium-235 and uranium-238 fragments.
- The Security Service of Ukraine warned citizens to be “especially careful” if they find drone wreckage, stating the radiation levels can cause “the greatest danger”.
- READ THE FULL STORY: Russian priests sent to frontline to fight enemy drones with their prayers
