In Kyiv region, an adapted building where the UOC community prayed was set on fire

On August 20, in the morning, in the village of Novosilky, Kyiv region, a fire broke out in an adapted building where the parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was holding services. The parish believes that this fire was another manifestation of systematic pressure on the UOC community. This is reported by the Dozor channel on First Cossack.

The believers note that the fire may have signs of deliberate arson, given the previous cases of pressure and hostile atmosphere around the parishes of the UOC. They emphasize that this is not the first incident related to attempts to destroy church life in Novosilky.

It is known that in October 2024, a group of OCU supporters seized the UOC church in the village by force. According to the parishioners, documents were falsified, and a cleric of the Uniate structure Medynsky was involved in the seizure.

Local residents also reported that OCU activists had repeatedly tried to set fire to the shrine – at least three times in total.

After the seizure of the church in Novosilky, according to the believers, icons and liturgical books were taken out of the premises and ended up among the garbage.

We also recall that the ancient Holy Protection Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Bronnyky, Rivne region, was transferred by the local authorities to the OCU. The temple, which is an architectural monument, was taken away from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2014 as a result of raider schemes organized by local supporters of the OCU and the administration of the Rivne region. Since then, the shrine has been under the control of local authorities.