UOC Says Kazan Church in Chyhyryn Forcibly Seized by OCU-Linked Group
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church says its Kazan Church in Chyhyryn was forcibly seized by an OCU-linked group that broke in, raised a flag, and took control of the building amid ongoing church-property disputes.
CHYHYRYN, UKRAINE — As reported by UOJ-Ukraine, in Ukraine’s Cherkasy Region the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), was seized around midday on December 22, 2025, according to local reports. The parish rector is Archpriest Anatolii Prykotenko, dean of the Chyhyryn district.
Parishioners said the church was empty at the time of the incident. A group reportedly cut the locks with an angle grinder and entered the building. Witnesses stated that the seizure was led by Nazarii Zasanskyi, who identifies himself as a chaplain of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). He arrived with approximately 50 individuals wearing military-style uniforms, some of whom allegedly identified themselves as employees of the Territorial Recruitment Center.
Community members recalled that in February 2025 the parish was re-registered to the OCU without the consent of the UOC congregation. Following the recent seizure, Zasanskyi posted images of a flag placed on the church’s bell tower, drawing criticism and condemnation from parishioners.
Previously, the UOJ reported that UOC clergy had been illegally detained by Ukrainian Territorial Recruitment Officers.
