UOC Temple Seized by OCU and Local Police in Khmelnytsky

Krasyliv, Ukraine—Around 8 o'clock this morning a group of activists from the OCU broke into the Holy Resurrection Church (UOC) in Krasyliv. The group was led by a priest of the OCU(EP), Ivan Kulinych, accompanied by the district director of the State Executive Service, Habal Roman Yaroslavovich.

According to UOJ-Ukraine, "footage shows that by around 8 a.m., the church doors had already been broken open. One UOC cleric who tried to stop the intruders was violently thrown to the ground using a wrestling move. They also took his phone, which had recorded the breaking and entering."

Parishioners who arrived later were halted by Kulinych's police entourage, who claimed to have a court decision enforcing an "obligation not to interfere with the use of the temple," according to a statement released by the Khmelnytsky diocese of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This was recorded on video footage posted to Facebook.

A statement released from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's Khmelnytsky Diocese reads:

"On March 2, 2025, the General Parish Meeting of the Religious Community of the Holy Resurrection Church of the city of Krasyliv, Krasyliv District, Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, was also held, at which, in particular, it was unanimously confirmed that: The Religious Community continues its activities within the framework of current legislation; Divine Services, Church Sacraments (weddings, baptisms, consecrations), other services (prayers for peace, memorial services for the fallen), prayers for the Ukrainian people are constantly performed in the Temple; no one is hindered in using the Holy Resurrection Church of the city of Krasyliv; The Temple is open according to the schedule of performing divine services.

According to current legislation, religious organizations (associations) have the right to independently resolve their internal affairs. Such autonomy of religious organizations (associations) is guaranteed by the legislative prohibition of the state to interfere in the lawful activities of religious organizations (part four of article 5 of the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations”).

In contrast, supporters of the OCU and individual representatives of state authorities and local self-government, exceeding their official powers and ignoring all norms of law and human morality, have demonstrated by their actions that the law is an empty place for them.

The religious community of the Holy Resurrection Church of the city of Krasyliv, Krasyliv district, Khmelnytskyi eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church cannot agree with lawlessness and disregard for its rights, and therefore will defend its rights to freedom of religion in a legal manner at the national and international levels."

Without the intervention of the Trump Administration, we can expect to see an increase in violent church seizures with the support of the police now that the Law Banning the UOC has come into full effect,

UOJ-America has previously reported on church seizures in Verkhni Stanivitsi and Bukovina, among others. 

Read also