Authorities and the OCU in Cherkasy Attempt to Justify Seizure of UOC Church with Accusations and Propaganda

Following the forcible takeover of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s Church of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called in the Mytnytsia district of Cherkasy, Mayor Anatoliy Bondarenko has attempted to justify the actions of local authorities and OCU clergy by claiming that the «parish joined the OCU» and accusing UOC believers of «provocations.» This was reported by the news outlet 1800.

According to Bondarenko, “literature printed in Moscow” was found inside the church, which he presented as justification for the change in jurisdiction. The mayor also alleged that “Moscow priests” were attempting to “create footage for Russian TV channels.”

However, as confirmed by parishioners themselves, no voluntary transition occurred. Instead, the actions of the OCU and local authorities amounted to a coordinated raid: the church doors were broken open, most parishioners were barred from entering by police, and the forced “inventory of property” belonging to the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC began.

As previously reported, Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kaniv issued a strong statement directed at Mayor Bondarenko and his aide Yuriy Trenkin, condemning their involvement in the seizure of the UOC church dedicated to the Apostle Andrew.