Investigative actions conducted at Pochaiv Lavra cemetery

An investigator at the Pochaiv Cemetery. Photo: TG channel "Pochaiv Cross Procession 2024-2025"

On August 26, 2025, an investigator arrived at the territory of the Pochaiv cemetery to conduct investigative actions in connection with an open pre-trial investigation. A video with the investigator's statement was published on the Telegram channel «Pochaiv Cross Procession 2024-2025».

When representatives of the security forces arrived on the territory, there were already several dozen UOC believers who had come for prayer. The investigator initially tried to expel them from the territory, but then agreed to conduct investigative actions in their presence.

The believers emphasized that they were extremely outraged by what was happening. "Here we are all representatives of the Lavra, we are people. Every person who is here has contributed their own resources," said one of the parishioners. "Look at these graves. There was nothing here before. There were ruins, everything was destroyed, the graves were in terrible state. Now we have restored this with our own resources."

The participants in the dialogue drew the investigator's attention to the spiritual significance of the place: "People come here disabled and leave healed. Do you understand what is happening here? You are now fighting against spiritual power, against God."

"We respect you as the authorities, we respect the authorities 100%. But you should respect us," the believers said, calling for mutual understanding.

The investigator explained to those present the specifics of conducting investigative actions in accordance with criminal procedure law, but did not disclose the specific reasons and circumstances of the investigation.

On the territory of the cemetery is the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. It was built in the place where in 1773 the miraculous icon of the Pochaiv Mother of God was solemnly crowned.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the cross procession from Kamianets-Podilskyi entered the Pochaiv Lavra.

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