In Khmelnytskyi region, representatives of the OCU, supported by police, seized a UOC church

On the morning of May 15, in the city of Krasyliv, Khmelnytskyi region, a forced entry into the Holy Resurrection Church, belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church community, was recorded. Representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) entered the church accompanied by police officers. According to eyewitnesses, the doors were broken, and believers lost access to the building. A video of the church seizure was posted on Facebook by one of the parishioners.

The footage shows law enforcement using physical force against a UOC cleric who tried to prevent the actions. He was knocked to the floor and had his phone confiscated, which was recording the event.

After entering, one of the OCU representatives, despite the protests of the rector Vitaliy Dunts, went into the altar area and began preparing for «a service».

Afterward, the police restricted access to the church grounds. The UOC community was forced to continue their prayer service outdoors near the closed church.

Earlier reports indicated that in Berezhany, Ternopil region, an attempt is being prepared to illegally transfer the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church community under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This process is being initiated by certain local activists who are spreading calls on social networks to participate in so-called “public meetings” scheduled for May 15 in the city council building.