Russian priests sent to frontline to fight enemy drones with their prayers
Russian Orthodox holy men have congregated in a city targeted by Ukrainian bombs in order to ‘pray away’ the devastating drone strikes causing havoc
The priests are hoping to stop the drone strikes in the city of Perm(Image: Perm diocese)
Russian Orthodox priests are heading to the frontline to take on enemy drones using the power of prayer, according to a pro-regime tabloid.
The religious leaders reportedly flocked to the city of Perm to organise a prayer service there, following a month of heavy bombing and drone attacks from Ukraine. Perm, home to over 1 million Russians, is also the centre of vital oil producing infrastructure which has been heavily damaged over the last few weeks.
The priests have already conducted several prayer services designed to defend the beleaguered city against further attacks, which has seen little to no oil leave its refineries since Ukraine upped the ferocity of its attacks.
As well as prayers, a religious parade has also been organised, with senior clergy figures carrying the city’s important ‘Mother of God’ artwork around nearby villages, several power stations and refineries, and the city of Perm itself.
A church spokesperson said that 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.”
“Why specifically with the ‘Permskaya’ icon of the Mother of God? Because it is locally venerated, it is tied to our region, and its veneration was restored not long ago.”
They added that they had tried a similar plan during the Covid-19 pandemic in order “to protect residents from the disease.”
The response to Ukrainian strikes comes as Russia were accused of firing dangerously radioactive drones the other way.
Tests carried out on the wreckage of a drone fired as part of a strike on Ukraine’s Chernihiv Oblast last month showed elevated radiation levels coming from uranium-235 and uranium-238 found in several fragments, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).
The SSU claimed the missiles were being used by “Russian troops” during “mass attacks” on “Ukrainian planes and helicopters”. The fragments were reportedly treated on location before being transported to a radioactive waste facility by Ukrainian defence forces.
In an official statement, the SSU told Ukrainians to be ‘especially careful’ if they find drone wreckage, as this level of radiation can cause “the greatest danger”.
The statement read: “Given the toxicity and radioactivity of depleted uranium, we urge citizens to be especially careful if they find wreckage of UAVs, missiles, or other ammunition.”
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