Footage shows OCU raiders breaking locks at UOC church in Ust-Putyla

Raiders break into the UOC Church of St. Paraskeva in Ust-Putyla. Photo: video screenshot

On May 21, 2025, members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from the Chernivtsi–Bukovyna Eparchy shared surveillance footage from the Church of St. Paraskeva in the village of Ust-Putyla on social media.

The video shows supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) entering church property. One can hear them asking for a power drill to break the lock on the church door. The sound of an angle grinder can also be heard as it cuts through the lock on the gate, and a man running past the camera is seen holding burglary tools.

In a comment on the video, a viewer named Karina remarked: “Of all those who entered the grounds, only one person made the sign of the cross. Even the OCU clergy didn’t cross themselves... Well, of course – what for, it’s not like they came to church.”

Shortly afterward, one of the raiders is seen knocking down the surveillance cameras with a stick, cutting the video feed.

As previously reported by UOJ, on the morning of May 21, a group of OCU supporters forcibly seized the church – locks were broken, and the intruders barricaded themselves inside. Police stood at the entrance and did not allow UOC parishioners access to the church for nearly 13 hours. According to eyewitnesses, the group came from the Ivano-Frankivsk region and was led by OCU chaplain Roman Hryshchuk.

Later that day, UOC faithful were eventually able to re-enter their church and celebrate an overnight Divine Liturgy.

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