OCU activist who poured red liquid near a church before Metropolitan Onufriy’s visit received only a verbal warning

In Khmelnytskyi, the court effectively “pardoned” an activist of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) who poured an unknown red liquid on the gates of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) church ahead of a visit by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy, the Primate of the UOC. Despite admitting guilt, the man was found guilty of petty hooliganism but received only a verbal warning. This was reported by Glavcom with reference to the court registry.

The incident occurred on May 21, 2025, near the St. Michael’s Church of the UOC. According to case materials, the head of a farming enterprise, Mykhailo Blonskyi, deliberately spilled a red mixture on the church grounds during a protest against Metropolitan Onufriy’s visit. He explained his actions as a “struggle for the establishment of the OCU” and a desire to “awaken” visitors of UOC churches.

The police drew up a protocol under Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (“Petty hooliganism”), but instead of imposing a fine, community service, or corrective labor, Blonskyi was given a verbal warning, citing “sincere remorse and the general political situation in the country.”

It is worth noting that Article 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code provides for a fine of 51 to 119 UAH, community service from 40 to 60 hours, corrective labor for one to two months with 20% wage deduction, or administrative arrest for up to 15 days.

As a reminder, on May 21, 2025, the city authorities of Khmelnytskyi disrupted the visit of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the revival of the Khmelnytskyi diocese. According to the announcement, the Primate was scheduled to be in Khmelnytskyi on May 21–22 to consecrate the local St. Nicholas Cathedral. However, at the initiative of local authorities, special equipment and a crowd of radicals and OCU supporters were brought to the church. The protesters blocked access to the church, which led to the cancellation of Metropolitan Onufriy’s visit.