The Russian Embassy in Skopje, on the occasion of the national holiday - Russia Day, held a reception which, among the numerous guests, was attended by two metropolitans of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archdiocese (MOC-OA) - Prespa-Pelagonian, Petar and Kumanovo-Osogovo, Gregory.

As the embassy posted on Facebook, the ambassador Sergei Bazdnikin among other things, he also stated that "Russia is happy about the renewal of the Eucharistic communion, after last year the Russian Orthodox Church, the first after the decision of the Serbian Orthodox Church, recognized the autocephaly of the MOC-OA".

The embassy announced it the entire address of Bazdnikin at the ceremony, in which he explains and justifies the Russian invasion of Ukraine, among other things.

"Today Russia has to fight again for freedom and independence. Last year, the "Collective West" went from ill-concealed hostility towards our country to actual participation in the conflict on the side of Kiev. Hiding at the same time behind Ukraine - in fact, I did not separate a part of the Russian world - which was turned into "anti-Russia", into a disposable tool to inflict maximum damage on us, a "strategic defeat", Bazdnikin said to those present at the ceremony. .

"I am convinced that everyone present understands what is happening during the special military operation, what the Armed Forces of Russia are fighting for. To those who until recently assured us of good intentions and wishes for developing mutually beneficial cooperation, and now spread Russophobic propaganda and send weapons to the east to kill Russians, I remind them: we are defending our country and our people.
We will continue to do that – consistently and efficiently," the ambassador added.