Raiders storm Kazan UOC Church in Ladyzhyn

Storming the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Church in Ladyzhyn. Photo: UOJ

A group of raiders is attempting to storm the UOC church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the city of Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia Oblast. Parishioners of the church reported this to the UOJ.

The seizure began around 9 am. More than two dozen people in military uniforms approached the church, climbed over the fence, and cut the lock on the gates. Then they started throwing concrete blocks, with which the church community, anticipating a possible attack, blocked access to the church doors. Raiders cut the door of the right chapel and carried it aside. The rector of the church, Archpriest Yevhen Vorobyov, together with the parishioners, stood in the doorway and tried to stop the invaders.

The stormtroopers also broke into the narthex, but could not cut the next iron door.

Parishioners rang the alarm bell, people began to gather at the church. Raiders trying to break into the church do not let them near the shrine, even using force against women and children.

Six "priests" of the OCU, led by a "dean" from Trostyanets, arrived at the scene.

Police cordoned off the church and did not prevent the seizure.

As reported by the UOJ, on November 10, 2023, in Ladyzhyn, a meeting of OCU supporters took place, who voted to transfer the Kazan parish to the Dumenko organization. The organizers of the event were MP Mykola Kucher and the leadership of one of the city-forming enterprises – the MHP company (brands "Nasha Ryaba", "Bashchinsky", etc.).

On November 13, a legitimate meeting of the church community took place in the church, where believers voted to remain within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Jonathan of Tultchyn and Bratslav declared to the clergy of the diocese not to absolve sins and commune Mykola Kucher, stating his "self-excommunication" from the Church.

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