Archpriest Andrei Tkachev, known for his conservative position in the Russian Orthodox Church, in a recent sermon placed the blame for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' strikes on Russian cities using HIMARS systems on Russia itself, pointing to abortion as the cause of divine punishment.
According to Tkachev, abortions cause far more deaths than military conflicts, both in peacetime and during wars. He argues that the moral decay of society, including the spread of abortions, is the cause of military disasters.
"It is because of depravity that wars occur. God punishes us with these "Hymars" or "Scalps" that fly over our cities," — the priest said, emphasizing the need for repentance to end conflicts.
Tkachev also linked military failures and suffering to self-gratification and disregard for traditional family values. He expressed the view that the misuse of human sexuality leads to violence and bloodshed:
"The only place where a man's seed should flow is into his wife's womb. If "the seed flows anywhere", then "blood will flow, a war will begin."
In light of these statements, Archpriest Kirill Ivanov, also representing the Russian Orthodox Church, called on Russians to pray and repent, including asking God to deprive them of their salaries as a form of punishment for their sins, including abortions. Ivanov emphasized that people create their own difficulties by using divine gifts to desecrate their lives, citing the need for migrants, which he believes is caused by the decline in birth rates due to abortions.
On January 11, Bryansk Region Governor Alexander Bogomaz reported a missile strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the village of Novye Yurkovichi using HIMARS. Three civilians were injured in the attack and hospitalized. Information that the strikes hit a school, a community center, and a post office was confirmed by the Mash Telegram channel, which emphasized the reality of the threat to the civilian population.