19-Year-Old Robs Church Twice in Rivne Region

In the village of Velyki Sady in the Rivne region, a 19-year-old local resident twice robbed the Holy Protection Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, stealing church property and money from the donation box. The perpetrator acted at night, breaking through the wooden doors to enter the building. Both thefts occurred within several days of each other, according to the Rivne Regional Police press service.

During the first incident, he stole three altar crosses and approximately 2000 hryvnias from the donation box. A few days later, he returned to the church and took another cross along with an electric heater.

After identifying the suspect, police searched his residence and recovered the stolen items. The money had already been spent for personal use.

A pre-trial investigation has been launched under Part 4 of Article 185 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (theft committed during martial law). Authorities are currently deciding whether to press charges and impose pre-trial restrictions on the suspect.

Earlier, it was reported that Andriy Smyrnov, a lobbyist for the OCU and an unofficial advisor to the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (SSEFC), commented on a recent Cabinet of Ministers decision that defines the procedure for implementing anti-church Bill No. 3894, aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Smyrnov confirmed that the state is thus assuming supervisory powers over religious affairs.