OCU chaplains seize UOC temple in Cherkasy region

Early in the morning of March 12, 2025, the Holy Dormition Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Blagodatne, Cherkasy region, was seized by OCU chaplains. The raiders took advantage of the absence of the rector of the local parish of the UOC, who was undergoing treatment due to illness. This is reported by the official website of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC.

It is reported that in the case of the Holy Dormition Church in Blahodatne, a standard raider scheme was used, for the implementation of which the documents on the ownership of the church were illegally reissued, as well as the “transfer” of the UOC community to the OCU.

However, even with the support of the police and local authorities, the new “owners” of the Assumption Church in Blahodatne were forced to take possession of the church by thievery, finding favorable conditions for this. The seizure of the church took place at 5:30 am and occurred just as the rector of the local UOC parish was undergoing treatment and was unable to be present in person to protect the community from the raider attack.

According to eyewitnesses, the seizure of the Holy Dormition Church of the UOC in Blagodatne was led by the same OCU chaplains who had previously participated in raiding other religious buildings in the Cherkasy region.

Earlier, the Cherkasy Diocese of the OCU reported that the organization had managed to seize five churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city of Cherkasy. In addition, there are five more churches of the UOC, which the OCU apparently also intends to appropriate.