Kostyantyn Bondarenko on Church Takeover in Chernivtsi: “We Are Essentially Experiencing Neo-Bolshevism”

Historian and political scientist Kostyantyn Bondarenko commented on the incident surrounding the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Chernivtsi, describing it as part of a broader trend of pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to him, instances of forceful interference in the activities of religious communities have become a common occurrence in Ukraine in recent years. He shared these views in a statement to the editorial office of the Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ).

Bondarenko characterized the events as another raid-like takeover of a UOC church, emphasizing that such actions violate constitutional principles of religious freedom and the separation of church and state:

“Such episodes became completely ordinary under Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelensky. The principle of separation of church and state, and other values that Ukraine once took pride in, are no longer functioning.”

He also expressed the opinion that the government is attempting to establish a single, controlled denomination:

“Today we see voluntarism, the rule of force, and accordingly, a desire by the authorities to create one ‘pocket church’ controlled from the President’s Office.”

According to Bondarenko, the current developments in the religious sphere resemble the events of the early 20th century:

“We are essentially experiencing neo-Bolshevism. These are the same persecutions of the Church and attempts at renovationism that occurred 100 years ago. The regime in Kyiv can be described as ‘Bolshevism without Marx.’”

The political scientist concluded that recent events in Chernivtsi may influence public sentiment:

“The patience of citizens is not limitless. The example of Chernivtsi may become symbolic and inspiring for other regions. It could mark the beginning of broader civic resistance.”

It should also be noted that in a recent interview, OCU “chaplain” Roman Hryshchuk — known for his active role in conflicts surrounding UOC churches — responded to a journalist’s questions regarding the harsh methods he uses, particularly during an incident in the village of Verkhni Stanivtsi. The host explicitly stated that she does not support such actions, even when they are carried out in the name of a “noble goal.” “The end does not justify the means,” she emphasized, noting that only the state has the right to use legitimate force, and therefore, vigilantism by OCU representatives, including “clergy,” is unacceptable. In response, Hryshchuk claimed that the published videos had allegedly been edited to discredit the OCU.