Head of the "Reserve" Complains that OCU Monks Do Not Want to Leave Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

The director of the National Reserve “Kyiv Pechersk Lavra,” Maksym Ostapenko, reported a “legal conflict” related to the presence of monks of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) on the territory of the Lavra. He spoke about this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

According to him, about 70 monks were registered in the Lavra in the 2000s. The exact circumstances of their registration on the “territory of a state-owned property leased out for use” remain unknown. Ostapenko believes this situation delays court proceedings since the monks claim the Lavra as their private residence.

It is also worth noting that on June 7 and 8, 2025, during the celebration of Pentecost, an LGBT festival will be held in Kyiv, and a gay pride parade is scheduled for June 14. The events aim to “raise funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine” and “protect human rights.”