Ukrainian Priest: Russians Don't Want Invasion, Just Putin Does

WOONSOCKET, RI — Retired priest Roman Golemba led services at St. Michael the Archangel, a Ukrainian Catholic church in Woonsocket, for more than two decades. On Thursday night, he joined the church community to pray for Ukrainians suffering following Russia's invasion of the country. But his prayers were not only for Ukrainians, but also the thousands of Russian citizens who took to the streets to protest the war.

On Thursday, protestors in at least 54 Russian cities decried Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions. More than 1,800 people were arrested at these protests, the Guardian reported.

Golemba criticized Putin for invading Ukraine for his own personal goals and said he doesn't believe this is what Russian citizens want. He also encouraged more Russian citizens to protest the war.

"There are good people in Russia protesting," Golemba told Patch in an interview Friday. "They're doing the right thing. They're concerned by their own future, of are they going to be seen as monsters or freedom-loving people."

Golemba was one of several St. Michael community members to have family still in Ukraine. He said most of his immediate family is no longer there, but he does still have cousins in the country. Golemba said he prays for them, as well as everyone in Ukraine and those in the church community personally affected by the war.

"I couldn't believe this was really happening," Golemba said. "My heart went immediately to the people who are going to be suffering. We get together here for mutual support, just like a grieving family."

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