Ukrainians gather in church to pray for Boris Johnson as he faces Partygate inquiry

As Boris Johnson faces the battle of his political life to survive Partygate, Ukrainians have been praying for the ‘hero’ former prime minister.

Mykolai Boiko, the head Orthodox priest in the Shumskiy region of western Ukraine, held a special mass earlier this week in support of Mr Johnson.

The former mayor of London enjoys near-cult hero status across the country for his staunch backing of Kyiv’s armed forces as they fight back against Vladimir Putin‘s illegal invasion.

Father Mykolai, 42, hailed the embattled Tory MP as ‘one of the only leaders who kept his promises’ as he held the service in the Church of the Transfiguration in Shumsk, 110 miles east of Lviv.

Mykolai Boiko (right), the head Orthodox priest in the Shumskiy region of western Ukraine, held a special mass earlier this week in support of Mr Johnson

Churchgoers gathered for the special mass to pray for Boris Johnson in Ukraine’s Shumskiy region ahead of today’s Partygate inquiry

‘While other politicians were just all talk, Boris Johnson matched his words with deeds,’ he said in the tiny city of just 5,000 people. ‘He was one who we could count upon.’

‘If the people of Ukraine could ask for his return, then they surely would.’

Volodymyr Kanishchev, a 52-year-old worshipper who volunteers delivering supplies to the frontline, hit out at MPs who ousted Mr Johnson over his alleged coronavirus rule-breaking.

‘Most people here don’t believe that this event should have had such a radical negative impact and led to a drastic decision such as kicking Boris Johnson out of office. It’s like a very sad joke. Especially since it came to light almost 2 years after this party took place?’

Father Mykolai, who has been a priest for 22 years, added: ‘There are no coincidences. It is strange that just at that moment last year – and not in 2020 – that this ‘scandal’ was brought to the attention of the press and public.

Father Mykolai (right), 42, hailed the embattled Tory MP as ‘one of the only leaders who kept his promises’ as he held the service in the Church of the Transfiguration in Shumsk

Former prime minister Boris Johnson was pictured leaving his London home this morning ahead of the televised evidence session in front of the Commons Privileges Committee today

‘Sometimes, opposition parties, and people who are on the other side of the fence use information against each other,’ Father Mykolai added.

‘Let’s be honest, it also happened, coincidence or not, in a year when a lot of help was coming to Ukraine, which some of the people in Great Britain may have been opposed to.

‘So who knows if this was also one of the reasons why some pushed for his resignation?’