In Potiivka, OCU "archbishop" personally leads UOC church seizure

"Archbishop" Vasyl (Volodymyr) Shlapak leading a church seizure in Potiivka. Photo: UOJ

On September 13, 2025, in the village of Potiivka, Zhytomyr region, a raider seizure of the Intercession Church of the UOC took place. The process was led by Vasyl (Volodymyr) Shlapak, the "archbishop" of Zhytomyr and Polissia, reports a UOJ correspondent.

Initially, a meeting took place in the center of the village. A significant part of its participants, according to local residents, were not Potiivka residents, let alone parishioners of the local church. The actual parishioners, who regularly participate in services, did not take part in the meeting and stood peacefully near the church to prevent bloodshed.

The meeting was organized by Maria Surzhyk, who does not reside in the village. She publicly stated that the church would not be seized.

However, after the vote, Shlapak called on the crowd to head toward the church. Upon reaching the church gates, which were locked, he ordered the pickets on the fence to be broken (as seen in the video). After some men, cigarettes in their mouths, made a hole in the fence, Shlapak was the first to squeeze through the opening. He was followed by the "priests" and other activists.

At the church doors, it was Vasyl Shlapak who ordered to find a crowbar and break the locks. People, despite a wish to enter the church, hesitated to do so in such a violent manner. However, Shlapak constantly incited them, saying: what are you afraid of, take the crowbar and break it: "They don't need to be pitied!"

As a result of these actions, the locks on the church building were broken, and people entered the church. These actions were not stopped by the fact that the church parishioners, among whom were elderly people, young mothers with children, and active military personnel on leave, urged not to break into the sanctuary.

Later, an investigative team was called to document the actions taken.

Local residents, church parishioners, testified that a significant part of those who "raiderly broke into the church" were not Potiivka residents at all.

When Vasyl Shlapak "victoriously" was leaving the churchyard, members of the Intercession community asked him: "We believed you that you would not seize the church! Is this the legal field?!" Shlapak replied: "Yes, this is the legal field!"

The UOJ correspondent reports that the "meeting" only decided to conduct the legal registration of the religious community but not to seize the church. However, Shlapak used his authority to persuade the residents to proceed with the seizure. The parishioners intend to file a collective complaint against Vasyl Shlapak for committing a crime under Article 178 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: "Damage to religious buildings or places of worship"; Article 179: "Unlawful possession, desecration, or destruction of religious relics"; and Article 180: "Obstruction of the performance of religious rites." They also plan to include charges under Articles 342 and 356 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that in Minkivtsi, OCU activists assaulted an AFU soldier.

Read also