Footage shows OCU activists breaking UOC church doors in Dovbysh

OCU raiders carrying off UOC church door in Dovbysh after breaking it down. Photo: Dozor

OCU raiders carrying off UOC church door in Dovbysh after breaking it down. Photo: Dozor

On August 6, 2025, around 4 a.m., a group of activists from the OCU broke into the Church of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple (UOC) in the village of Dovbysh, Zhytomyr region. The raiders tried to conceal the manner in which they broke into the shrine. The Telegram channel «Dozor» published footage from surveillance cameras capturing the moment of the intrusion.

According to eyewitnesses, almost immediately after entering the church grounds, the intruders began searching for light, Internet, and surveillance camera cables to cut them and hide their wrongdoing.

However, they did not consider that part of the recording would still be preserved.

In a comment to «Suspilne», OCU activist Svitlana Zarechna stated that she «does not know who cut» the church door.

The footage showed that she not only knew who removed the doors but also participated in the break-in.

"According to our information, the same activists who falsified documents for the sanctuary were involved in the barbaric breaking of the doors of the UOC  Church of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple in Dovbysh, Zhytomyr region. It is reported that the broken doors of the House of God were carried out by Natalia and Vadym Romanchuk, Larysa Domashyn, Liubov Rybchynska, and Svitlana Zarechna," reported Dozor.

It is noted that it was Vadym Romanchuk on whom the OCU representatives illegally re-registered the shrine.

As reported by the UOJ, TRC employees came to support the invaders at the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos Church of the UOC. 

UOC's Sign Church damaged in Kherson air strike

In Kherson, Russian airstrikes shatter windows and damage the façade of the UOC’s Church of the Sign.

Yelensky: Not recognizing OCU means indirectly denying Ukrainian statehood

Viktor Yelensky believes that Local Churches that do not recognize the OCU thereby indirectly fail to recognize Ukrainian statehood as well.

UOC Lavra priest urges believers to accept hardships with gratitude

Archpriest Heorhiy Boyko at the prayer vigil near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra recalled the sufferings of Great Martyr George the Victorious.

UOC honors patron saint of Kherson land

A Divine service was held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Kherson on feast day of St. Barsanuphius of Kherson.

Nativity of John the Baptist Church of UOC damaged by shelling in Kharkiv

A church of the Kharkiv Eparchy (UOC) was damaged during another shelling.

Patriarch Bartholomew not to concelebrate with Bulgarian Church Primate

The Ecumenical Patriarch will attend the service at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia as a guest.