"They prevent us from seizing churches": OCU hierarch complains to US and EU "because of UOC provocations in Kirovograd region"

The head of the Kropyvnytskyi Diocese of the OCU, Mark Levkiv, appealed to the United States and the EU to pay attention to «systematic provocations and aggression by the Moscow Patriarchate in the Kirovohrad region.» Levkiv noted that the leadership of the Diocese of Oleksandriya of the UOC allegedly created a group of provocateurs who are trying to provoke a physical confrontation between believers and prevent those who have joined the OCU from using churches. This was reported by Ukrinform.

According to Levkiv, despite the «peaceful position» of the Kropyvnytskyi Diocese of the OCU and the response of local authorities, representatives of the UOC continue to «shoot false videos about alleged oppression in Ukraine, which are subsequently distributed in the Russian media.» «This tactic is aimed at discrediting Ukraine in the eyes of the international community,» he emphasized. As an example, Levkiv cited the situation in the village of Pryiutivka, where the religious community «legally transferred» to the OCU, but the UOC still prevents them from using the church.

He also noted that similar «provocations» are taking place all over Ukraine and are part of Russian propaganda to oppress denominations. «We call on the international community to pay attention to these facts and support Ukraine in protecting religious freedom,» he added.

As reported, on December 23, 2025, in the village of Checheliyivka, Kirovohrad region, the Intercession Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was seized by representatives of the OCU. 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.