Conflict in Kyiv: The controversial construction of a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was justified on the grounds of “concern for the mental health” of residents

In the Obolon district of Kyiv, a heated standoff continues between representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and local residents who oppose the construction of a new church. Despite active protests and repeated attempts to tear down the construction fence, church representatives are trying to sway public opinion through an advertising campaign.

To legitimize the construction, banners have been placed on the new construction site fence with slogans describing the church as “a space for healing, mental health, and emotional resilience.” Local residents, in turn, view these slogans as purely propaganda and insist that the construction work is illegal.

The main point of contention is the procedure for issuing building permits near a kindergarten. According to sources, residents are demanding a complete halt to the work, pointing out that the relevant documents from the Kyiv City State Administration were obtained without transparent public hearings. In 2024, a petition demanding a halt to construction on this site had already gathered more than 6,000 signatures, but the conflict remains unresolved.

As a reminder, residents of Ivano-Frankivsk protested against the construction of a Greek Catholic church in the city. The religious building was supposed to be built on the shore of the city lake, but there were too many opponents of this idea in Ivano-Frankivsk.