Pro-Putin Church leader’s car reportedly crashes in Moscow

A car believed to belong to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, was involved in a traffic accident in central Moscow on Monday morning, according to several Russian Telegram channels.

The Baza channel, which has links to Russian security services, reported that an Aurus belonging to Kirill collided with a Volvo at around 6:30am. Moscow time. It happened at the intersection of Prospekt Mira and Botanichesky Lane, injuring one person, who refused to go to the hospital.

Kirill, 76, justified Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine in February 2022 on spiritual and ideological grounds.

The Russian Orthodox Church denied reports that Kirill’s Aurus car was involved in a traffic accident.

“These reports are not true. Right now, the Aurus car with Patriarch Kirill is driving to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour,” a source told Russian state-run Interfax news agency.

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, located near the Kremlin.

Telegram channel 112 also reported that the Aurus motor vehicle belongs to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Another channel, SHOT, posted a video from the scene of the crash, which showed a heavily damaged car covered in a black sheet as a police officer drove by.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that an Aurus car was involved in an accident in central Moscow and that police have yet to comment on the incident.

The spokesman did not say if there were any casualties, while police have yet to comment on the incident.

Newsweek Russia’s foreign ministry has been contacted by email for comment.

The patriarch has, since the beginning of the war, justified the conflict in Ukraine by giving speeches about Russia as a “peace-loving power” not involved in “military adventures”.

Three days after the war, on February 27, 2022, he said in a sermon that Ukraine and Belarus are part of “Russian territories” and that Ukrainians defending their country are “evil forces.”

In June 2022, he said that Russia is under “attack” around the world because of feelings of jealousy, envy and resentment. Kirill added that he believed this was because Russia is “different”.

And last September, after the Russian president announced a partial mobilization, Cyril urged Russian citizens not to fear death, as thousands began fleeing the country to avoid being called up to fight in Ukraine.

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Update 5/22/23 at 6:51 am ET: This article has been updated with more information throughout.