SEFC: War affects 205 religious buildings in 14 regions of Ukraine
From 24 February to 23 August 2022, at least 205 religious buildings in 14 regions of Ukraine were completely destroyed or subjected to varying degrees of destruction, reports the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (SEFC). Churches, mosques, synagogues, educational and administrative buildings of Ukraine's religious communities need restoration.
According to the SEFC, 5 out of 205 damaged religious buildings are Muslim, 5 structures are Judaic and the remaining 195 structures are Christian.
Of the 195 damaged Christian buildings 68% (132 objects) belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 29 Christian churches and buildings belong to Protestant communities, 20 – to the OCU, 4 – to the RCC, 3 – to the UGCC and 7 buildings belong to the Jehovah's Witnesses community.
The most destroyed religious buildings are located in Luhansk (56) and Donetsk (48) regions, followed by Kyiv (34) and Kharkiv (25) regions.
An interactive map has been drawn up based on the results of the monitoring conducted by the SEFC in cooperation with the Workshop for Academic Study of Religion.
As earlier reported, according to the SEFC, as of the end of July 2022, 183 churches were damaged in Ukraine.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.