Masked Individuals Install and Then Remove Hidden Surveillance Camera at UOC Gymnasium

Telephone pole with hidden camera installed. Photo: ДОЗОР на «Першому Козацькому»/Telegram

CHORNIAVKA, UKRAINE — On January 15, 2026, a hidden surveillance camera installed by masked individuals and aimed at a Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) gymnasium mysteriously disappeared, according to the school’s owner, Kateryna Dehtiarenko. She reported the incident to local authorities, as noted by the Dozor Telegram channel.

Dehtiarenko stated that the previous day, a car had stopped near the gymnasium, carrying masked individuals allegedly linked to the security service. Several people dressed as electricians then installed a small box on a pole outside the building. Investigators later discovered a miniature camera inside the device, its lens aimed directly at the school entrance.

After the police were notified and a formal report filed, the camera vanished. Tire tracks and footprints in the snow were found at the scene, suggesting the perpetrators removed the device under cover. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine who was responsible and whether it poses an ongoing threat to the school.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a Ukrainian Orthodox school director spoke out after a media report triggered harassment.

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