"Pure provocation": eyewitnesses about "beating" in Khmelnytsky temple

Conflict in the Khmelnytsky Cathedral. Photo: screenshot from Viktor Burlyk's Facebook page

On April 2, 2023, eyewitnesses of the alleged “beating” of a military man in the Intercession Church of Khmelnitsky told how everything really happened.

The Khmelnytsky publication vsim.ua cites the words of one of the women who witnessed this event.

“There was a service. The soldier came in. He began to provoke, wanted to push another priest, who defended and wanted to take the troublemaker out of service. And there cropped up that girl who turned on the camera and began this performance of ‘beating a military man’. They came together. My stepfather sings there (in the church choir – Ed.). He says that this is a pure provocation,” said the witness.

According to the press service of the Khmelnytsky diocese, activist Artur Ananev turned out to be a provocateur, who, following the instructions of the deputy of the Khmelnytsky regional council Viktor Burlyk, attacked the clergyman of the Holy Intercession Cathedral, disrupted the service, doused and damaged the Holy Gospel in the presence of more than 100 parishioners.

“The police and the SBU were immediately called to the scene. The actions of a young man who put on a military uniform, although he has nothing to do with the military (as he personally told the police), are provocative,” the diocese added.

Later it became known that OCU activists announced the seizure of the cathedral in Khmelnytsky.

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