In Volyn, media harass UOC believers building a church to replace seized one

A journalist harasses a man she suspects of being involved in building a UOC church in the village of Zaliznytsia. Photo: Screenshot from the YouTube channel “Syla Pravdy”

Regional media outlets in Volyn have launched an information campaign against the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in the village of Zaliznytsia, Kamin-Kashyrskyi District, because of the construction of a new church.

The pretext for a “journalistic investigation” by the local YouTube channel Syla Pravdy (“The Power of Truth”) was the fact that UOC believers, who lost their Protection of the Mother of God Church after it was seized by supporters of the OCU, began building a new one. For almost a year after the raid, they prayed in an old village house adapted for use as a temporary church.

In the video report, the journalists claimed that “the Protection Church of the UOC transferred to the OCU” in 2023, showing footage of the forcible seizure while accompanying it with comments justifying the actions of the aggressors. According to a local official, the genuine parishioners who opposed the transfer had appealed to her – but, as became clear from the conversation, were ignored.

After losing their church, the UOC faithful began constructing a new one. Yet instead of support, they again faced pressure – this time informational. In Syla Pravdy’s segment, hostile remarks from OCU supporters were aired as they shared their own version of events.

“There are some who say it’s not Russia fighting, but America in Ukraine. Even when they bring a fallen soldier, the Moscow Patriarchate priest stands with his hands in his pockets and doesn’t make the sign of the cross,” one of them claimed.

The position of UOC parishioners was presented in a distorted way – with phrases cut out of context. The author portrayed the situation as if the believers had no right to build a church. She intrusively entered private properties, knocked on doors and windows, provoked residents, and followed a man near the construction site, identifying him as the son of the landowner.

Moreover, the video revealed personal data of local entrepreneurs who are helping the believers construct the new church – effectively exposing them to possible harassment.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the Security Service of Ukraine and local authorities have been involved in organizing “transfers” of parishes to the OCU, according to a “decolonization” activist.

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