UOC deacon beaten during cathedral seizure in Volodymyr

The deacon of the UOC, a victim of the cathedral invaders in Volodymyr. Photo: a screenshot from orthodox_faith

On October 10, 2025, during the seizure of the Dormition Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Volodymyr, law enforcement and radicals used force against believers, students of the theological school, and clergy. This was reported by the Instagram page Orthodox_Faith, which published a video from the scene.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers obstructed filming, confiscated phones, and beat the worshippers with batons. Deacon Bohdan, who served in the Dormition Cathedral, was particularly affected.

According to the authors of the publication, he was beaten on the legs and back, strangled by the throat, and pulled by the hair. An ambulance was called to the scene, but it was not allowed to reach the victim for a long time.

On social media, people are urged not to keep silent about what happened and to preserve all possible photos, videos, and testimonies.

The UOJ editorial board cannot reliably confirm all the details of the incident, but similar cases of violence during the seizures of UOC churches have been repeatedly recorded in other regions.

The published footage shows a UOC deacon lying on the ground, with the believers providing him assistance. Meanwhile, the police standing aside are taking no action.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documented new attacks on parishioners and supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from December 2024 to May 2025.

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