Employees of the "reserve" seized the Anno-Conception Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in spite of ongoing legal disputes

on May 12, 2026, employees of the National Reserve made a forceful seizure of the Anno-Zachatievskaya Church in the Far Caves of the Lower Lavra, having previously cut off the locks. The actions of the museum administration were taken despite the absence of final court decisions on the issue of the right to use the buildings of the monastery.

The lawyer of the monastery, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, in his Telegram channel pointed out the particular cynicism of the situation: the staff of the reserve took advantage of the absence of people in the premises to break in. Later, the museum management sent letters to the monastery, claiming that the brethren allegedly voluntarily vacated the premises and removed things, which is not true.

“Any unilateral actions to change the actual use of temples and premises during an unresolved legal dispute should be carried out exclusively in the manner and within the limits provided by law, ” the human rights activist emphasized. According to him, such incidents violate the principles of the rule of law, demonstrate disrespect for the judicial process and offend the feelings of believers, for whom the Lavra shrines have a special spiritual significance.