In Khmelnytskyi, a deputy called for a protest against the arrival of His Beatitude Onuphry

In Khmelnytskyi, district council deputy Oleksandr Chorniievych publicly called for a protest action aimed at disrupting the visit of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. Chorniievych urged his supporters to gather near the Holy Nicholas Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to hold a protest. This was reported by «Pershyi Kozatskyi.»

Oleksandr Chorniievych’s name is already known to the public due to his involvement in conflict situations around UOC churches. In particular, in 2023 he was involved in events related to the seizure of the St. Paraskeva Church in the village of Pyrohivtsi. At that time, video materials were published online showing the deputy using physical force against female UOC parishioners, as well as attacking a clergyman during a service.

Despite this, Chorniievych continues his public activity and calls for new provocations. UOC believers fear a repeat of violent actions and draw the attention of law enforcement agencies to such calls.

Earlier, it was also reported that sources of the Ukrainian publication «Strana.ua» claim that the process of banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be delayed, as the Ukrainian government realizes the risk of damaging relations with the team of US President Donald Trump due to issues concerning violations of religious freedom. According to the media, every time UOC churches are taken away in favor of the OCU, it pushes the Ukrainian establishment further away from the current American elites.