OCU raiders make unsuccessful attempt to seize UOC church in Bukovyna

On the night of April 8-9, 2025, supporters of the OCU made an unsuccessful attempt to seize the St. Nicholas Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Verkhni Stanivtsi, Chernivtsi region. The seizure was led by the odious “chaplain” of the OCU Roman Hryshchuk. The invaders attacked the UOC believers who gathered to defend the church. Some parishioners of the church needed hospitalization. This was reported by the official Telegram channel of the Chernivtsi-Bukovyna Eparchy of the UOC.

It is reported that late in the evening of April 8, raiders arrived at the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Verkhni Stanivtsi to seize the building. However, the invaders were met with resistance from the parishioners of the said church. As a result, the OCU adherents began to attack the believers, beating them with previously prepared truncheons and pieces of metal fittings. During the fight, one of the parishioners of the church was severely injured, her head was smashed.

The situation unfolded in the presence of police officers, who did not in any way counteract the ongoing lawlessness. The process of seizure was led by the notorious “chaplain” of the OCU Roman Hryshchuk, who personally participated in the fight.

Feeling numerically superior and unable to carry out the seizure, the raiders retreated and left the crime scene, leaving behind the equipment they had taken to seize St. Nicholas Church.

As reported, on April 5, 2025, supporters of the OCU seized the church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Dmitry of Thessalonica in the village of Panka, Chernivtsi region. The seizure of the church took place despite the fact that the village already has an Assumption Church of the OCU, where adherents of the Ukrainian schism can fully meet their religious needs.