In Varash, UOC Parishioners Prevented an Attempt to Seize the Transfiguration Cathedral

On the morning of May 15, a group of individuals associated with the OCU attempted to enter the territory of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city of Varash. The group was accompanied by a local deputy, according to reporters from Pervyi Kozatskyi.

After entering the church grounds, OCU activists began provoking conflict and engaging in verbal altercations with parishioners. Police were present at the scene but reportedly did not intervene.

At the same time, numerous parishioners arrived to defend their church. The Orthodox faithful succeeded in driving the intruders off the cathedral grounds.

By the end of the incident, a group of activists and a representative of the OCU clergy remained in a vehicle near the cathedral, apparently awaiting further instructions.

Earlier, it was also reported that Kirill Hovorun, a defrocked former cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church, stated that if the United States is paying attention to violations of religious freedom in Ukraine, such concerns should be taken seriously, as statements from the U.S. establishment often carry political implications. Hovorun believes that the issue of protecting the rights of UOC believers in the U.S. is politically charged and could lead to unexpected consequences.