In Kryvyi Rih, a man with an axe attacks a UOC priest during a liturgy

A priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was attacked in Kryvyi Rih. on October 5, 2025, a man armed with an ax broke into the church during a service and attacked the priest. The attacker was promptly detained by police and charged with hooliganism.

According to media reports, the incident occurred in one of the UOC churches in the Metallurgical district of the city. During the liturgy, a man with an axe entered the church, attacked the priest and knocked the mitre off his head.

Police officers quickly identified and detained the suspect. He was a 35-year-old local resident. He has now been served a notice of suspicion of committing a criminal offense under Part 4 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine(hooliganism).

As reported, in the city of Brody, Lviv region, on October 4, 2025, representatives of the OCU held religious events in the St. Vladimir’s Church, which belongs to the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The seizure of the church, which is the private property of believers and was closed by the authorities in 2023, was facilitated by members of the nationalist organization UNA-UNSO.