OCU supporters seize UOC temple in Kirovograd region

on December 23, 2025, the Intercession Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was seized by representatives of the OCU in the village of Checheliyivka, Kirovohrad region. According to reports, the church, which had remained sealed for three years until a court decision, was seized by a group of raiders, with the police present. The incident was accompanied by an attack on the dean of the Petrovsky district, Archpriest Dimitri Gorodetsky.

According tothe Dozor Telegram channel, the raider group of the OCU announced its invasion in advance. From the very morning, a part of the UOC parishioners prayed near the walls of the church, who had not had access to their shrine for three years, as according to previous agreements, the church was sealed until a court decision was made.

The OCU cleric Mark Levkiv arrived at the scene accompanied by his associates. According to the source, representatives of the OCU insulted Orthodox Christians and incited hatred. Levkiv announced an «inventory» in the seized church.

Subsequently, ignoring the protests of the faithful, the raiders cut the locks on the doors of the church. At the same time, the police, who arrived at the scene in advance, formed a corridor for the OCU supporters, without interfering with the seizure. During the incident, an OCU cleric and one of the activists attacked the dean of the Petrovsky district, Archpriest Dimitri Gorodetsky.

As reported, on December 22, 2025, in the city of Chyhyryn, Cherkasy region, a forceful seizure of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) took place. According to sources, a group of raiders, some of whom introduced themselves as employees of the territorial acquisition center (TAC), illegally entered the territory of the shrine, changing the locks and installing the state flag.