Identities of those involved in UOC church seizure in Chernivtsi revealed

OCU militants beating UOC cathedral priest Fr. Roman. Photo: UOJ

UOJ has obtained information on individuals allegedly involved in the violent takeover of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s cathedral in Chernivtsi.

The assault was carried out by groups of young men who, immediately after the incident, were loaded into two police vans and transported from the church grounds to an undisclosed location.

Despite committing clear criminal acts – violence, unlawful entry, and the beating of priests and parishioners – none of them appear to have been held accountable.

Footage reviewed by UOJ shows that the group was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Regional Police, Sviatoslav Kishlar, who was seen personally coordinating the attackers via phone.

Kishlar later left Chernivtsi after an internal investigation was launched into his actions, according to UOJ sources.

Meanwhile, sources report that just hours after the assault, the same young men who had violently attacked clergy and parishioners were seen at upscale restaurants in Chernivtsi allegedly owned by the city’s mayor, Roman Klichuk.

They reportedly received special treatment and later strolled freely through the city, confident in their impunity.

UOJ sources say that many of the attackers were active-duty police officers from the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

They also claim that members of the “Tryzub” organization (with branches in Lviv and Kalush), along with cadets from the Ivano-Frankivsk Police Academy, took part in the raid.

Sources fear a forthcoming “cleanup”: perpetrators may be retroactively dismissed and their actions framed as personal initiatives, with promises of reinstatement later.

There is growing concern that the real organizers will escape responsibility while blame is shifted onto the “executors,” UOJ sources said.

Earlier, the UOJ reported on video evidence showing OCU clerics transporting militants to the UOC cathedral in Chernivtsi.

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