**US Pastor Opens Up About Detention, Threats from Russian Forces in Occupied Ukraine**
Dmytro Bodyu, the pastor of the Word of Life Pentecostal Church in Melitopol, a city in Russian-occupied Ukraine, has shared his harrowing experience with the Kyiv Independent. In an exclusive interview, Bodyu revealed how he was detained by Russian forces, accused of working for the CIA, and faced death threats.
**A Terrifying Morning**
On March 19, 2022, Russian military vehicles and civilian cars surrounded Bodyu’s home. Around 15 soldiers in full gear, wearing balaclavas and carrying shields, stormed into his property. The pastor described the scene as “like being in a psychiatric ward,” where he was treated like a “Mexican drug lord.”
**Accusations and Threats**
During his detention, Bodyu was repeatedly accused of working for the CIA and asked to reveal his alleged handler from Langley. He was also threatened with death by Russian soldiers, who claimed that he was a spy responsible for giving away their positions, leading protests in the city, and providing funding to Ukrainian forces.
**A Sudden Release**
After eight days of detention, Bodyu’s time in custody came to an abrupt end. An FSB operative informed him that “Moscow decided” to release him. When asked who made this decision, the operative replied, “God decided.” This bizarre exchange has left many questioning the true motives behind Bodyu’s sudden release.
**A Church and Businesses Lost**
Bodyu and his family eventually left Melitopol after their release from detention. His Pentecostal Church, Word of Life, was officially banned by Russian occupation authorities on December 26, 2022, just a day after Christmas. The church building has been taken over by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
**A Pattern of Persecution**
The Kyiv Independent’s investigative documentary “No God But Theirs” has identified several officials involved in the persecution of Ukrainian Christians in Melitopol. Besides Bodyu’s Church, other Protestant churches and a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church were also banned, with their buildings now housing Russian institutions.
**A Reporter’s Perspective**
Danylo Mokryk, a reporter for the War Crimes Investigations Unit of the Kyiv Independent, has worked on investigations into Russian acts of genocide in Ukraine. He notes that the persecution of Ukrainian Christians is just one aspect of a broader pattern of human rights abuses committed by Russian forces.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
