Raider who shot at parishioners in Cherkasy nominated to MoD Council

Pshenychny aiming a pistol at parishioners in the Cherkasy cathedral. Photo: Telegram channel of Yevhen Karas

David Pshenychny, one of the leaders of the armed seizure of St. Michael's Cathedral in Cherkasy, who fired a gun at parishioners inside the church, has been registered as a candidate for the Public Anti-Corruption Council of the Ministry of Defense. Online voting involving Pshenychny took place on January 7, though the results are not yet known.

Pshenychny was nominated by the NGO "National Center for Human Rights", led by prominent radical Yevhen Karas, who has repeatedly organized protests against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). On his Telegram channel, Karas stated that Pshenychny was "one of the key exorcists who cleansed Ukraine’s largest Orthodox cathedral in Cherkasy, and this is a good outcome." Karas also posted a photo of Pshenychny during the armed takeover of the UOC cathedral, where he is seen aiming a pistol at parishioners.

An identical description of Pshenychny was published by the "Council of Veterans of the War with Russia".

Earlier, the UOJ reported on those involved in the assault on the UOC cathedral in Cherkasy.

Read also

More than 800 anti-Christian incidents reported in France in 2025

France’s Interior Ministry has published a report on a sharp rise in violence against believers.

OCU cleric: Moscow strikes Lavra because OCU is there now

A "priest" of Dumenko's structure believes it is normal to ask God for vengeance against a believer.

Head of “Belarusian Autocephalous Church” prays with OCU in Pyriatyn

The leader of the BAOC, unrecognized in the Orthodox world, Sviatoslav Lohin, held a “joint prayer service” with military chaplains in Poltava Region.

Chief Rabbi discusses religious freedom in Ukraine with State Dept official

The participants discussed attacks on religious buildings and cases of pressure on believers.

Monastic tonsure performed in Khust Eparchy

At the diocesan metochion in the village of Synevyrska Poliana, Bishop Mark of Rakhiv performed the rite of rassophore tonsure.

OCU consecrates memorial sign to UPA commander in Volyn

In the village of Botyn, representatives of the OCU supported the state-level glorification of UPA figures by consecrating a memorial to one of its commanders.