Police are investigating the legality of the religious procession organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the Pochaiv Lavra

In the Ternopil region, law enforcement agencies are verifying whether the necessary permits have been obtained for a religious procession by members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra. The administration of the local historical and architectural reserve states that it did not grant permission for this event to take place on the grounds of the “architectural monument.”

According to Ukrinform, the police received a report from the director of the Kremenets-Pochayiv State Historical and Architectural Reserve. Information regarding a possible violation of the law was recorded in the report log, and an investigation is currently underway.

Vasyl Ilchyshyn, director of the reserve, noted that the Pochaiv Lavra is included in the list of architectural monuments of national significance. According to legislation on the protection of cultural heritage, activities that could harm cultural heritage sites or violate their protection regime are prohibited within the reserve’s territory. Mass events are permitted only after approval by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine; however, the reserve has not received any such requests.

The Ternopil Regional Military Administration also reported that it had not received any requests for approval of a march or events on the Lavra’s grounds. Officials there clarified that, under martial law, responsibility for issuing permits for mass events rests with local executive authorities.

As a reminder, it was previously reported that the executive committee of the Demidivka town council in the Rivne region had decided to ban a religious procession organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The authorities justified this measure by citing the need to ensure the safety of citizens under the legal framework of martial law.