Preparations are underway in Kyiv to demolish the Transfiguration Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Obolon

The situation in Kyiv surrounding the Transfiguration Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), located on Avtozavodska Street, has escalated. City authorities have demanded that the rector and the congregation dismantle the church building on their own, threatening to forcibly demolish the sacred site if the order is not carried out by the set deadline.

According to the DOZOR Telegram channel on “First Cossack, ” an official notice regarding the impending demolition of the building was posted on the church. The church’s rector, Archpriest Alexander Prochenko, and the parishioners are being required to demolish the church themselves by Tuesday, June 9. If the believers refuse to carry out the demolition, the authorities intend to demolish the building by force. In light of this looming threat, Orthodox Christians have appealed to the public for prayerful support.

This incident is not the first attempt to undermine the church’s existence. In May 2016, a group of unknown individuals already attempted to destroy the church by arson: the perpetrators broke the windows and poured a flammable mixture inside. At that time, thanks to the efforts of the clergy and the community, the church was restored. However, according to representatives of the UOC, the shrine is now falling victim to the state’s policy of “spiritual independence,” aimed at eliminating churches of this denomination.

As a reminder, we previously reported that on the night of May 16–17, 2024, in violation of procedures and without official warning, the Kyiv authorities demolished the Vladimir-Olgin (Desyatinnaya) Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.