Pochaiv Reserve head: The Lavra incident was a staged show for enemy media

Conflict at the Pochaiv Lavra. Photo: Ilchyshyn’s Facebook

The head of the Kremenets-Pochaiv Reserve, Vasyl Ilchyshyn, assured that the events which took place at the Pochaiv Lavra on October 8, 2025, were an attempt to create a staged scene for hostile media outlets.

“A classic attempt to stage a picture for propaganda channels,” Ilchyshyn said, commenting on the conflict between seminary students and unidentified individuals that occurred after the gates of the monastery’s Economic Building were broken open. According to him, an investigative task force was attempting to enter the Lavra. Ilchyshyn did not explain why the security forces did not use the regular entrance but instead began cutting the gates open with an angle grinder.

He accused the brethren of engaging in “a provocation on the part of a religious organization.” “At the sound of the bells, all the frail grandmothers from the surrounding area came running and joined the heated ‘discussion’ as well,” Ilchyshyn complained.

Recall that an attempted seizure took place at the Pochaiv Lavra. With the support of the police, the intruders cut the locks on the gates with an angle grinder and tried to enter. Thanks to the quick reaction of the seminary students, the attackers’ breakthrough was stopped.

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