Authorities and OCU reps stage a provocation near UOC church in Krasyliv

Authorities and OCU adepts heading toward the Resurrection Church in Krasyliv. Photo: Screenshot from a video by the Khmelnytskyi Eparchy

On February 28, 2025, Roman Yaroslavovych Khabal, head of the district department of the State Executive Service, arrived at the Resurrection Church in the city of Krasyliv, Khmelnytskyi district, accompanied by city council deputies and supporters of the OCU. The Khmelnytskyi Eparchy of the UOC published a statement regarding this visit.

"When parishioners of the religious community asked these individuals about the purpose of their arrival, they were unable to provide a clear answer, merely mentioning the existence of a court decision they intended to enforce," the diocesan press service reported.

The Khmelnytskyi Eparchy reminded that on May 7, 2023, at a general parish meeting, the religious community of the Resurrection Church confirmed its desire to remain within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Meanwhile, seeking to seize the UOC church in Krasyliv, OCU supporters obtained a court ruling and an enforcement order "mandating that they not be prevented from using the church."

"In light of the above, according to the current legislation of Ukraine, a petition was submitted to the Krasyliv District Court of the Khmelnytskyi region to recognize the enforcement order as unenforceable, since there are no obstacles from the clergy or parishioners of the religious community preventing the use of the Holy Resurrection Church – anyone who wishes may pray there. The court proceedings regarding the annulment of the enforcement order are ongoing," the UOC Eparchy emphasized.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that since the summer of 2023, the Resurrection Church of the UOC in Krasyliv had been under pressure from OCU supporters. Previously, they held a territorial community meeting where they declared the church "transferred" from the UOC to the OCU. The Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeals upheld a ruling legalizing the re-registration and transfer of the church in favor of the OCU.

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