OCU supporters seize UOC church in Kirovograd region despite agreement on alternate use of building

On March 11, 2025, supporters of the OCU seized the Holy Cross Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Perehonivka, Kirovohrad region. The incident occurred despite the fact that the UOC and OCU communities had been in agreement for a year on the alternate use of the religious building. This was reported to Raskolam.net by representatives of the Holy Cross community of the UOC.

“On March 11, 2025, the religious community of the Holy Cross parish, which had been praying in its church for many years, came to prepare for the service. But the lock on the door of their shrine was changed. Representatives of the OCU, who are supposed to be an example of peace and love, actually blocked access to the church. The head of the OCU community, Stepan Grinda, openly stated that the keys would not be returned to the UOC community,” – said the believers of the Holy Cross community of the UOC in the village of Peregonovka.

As reported, on March 6, 2025, supporters of the OCU seized the Holy Dormition Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Komarintsy, Chernivtsi region. The raider attack took place with the connivance of law enforcement agencies, which did not prevent the seizure of the UOC church.