Criminal group robs Sviatohirsk Lavra skete: 8 bells stolen

An abandoned bell left by robbers. Photo: the Sviatohirsk Lavra

On the night of January 24-25, 2026, unknown perpetrators robbed the Sviatohirsk Lavra skete of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in the village of Bohorodychne, writes the monastery's press service.

On the morning of January 25, the watchman discovered open gates – the chains with the lock had been cut with wire cutters, and the doors to the lower and upper chapels of the church had been broken down. Near the church remained traces of a truck and numerous human footprints, indicating the participation of a group of people in the crime.

Eight out of ten bells were stolen from the bell tower. The criminals threw down the wrought iron grating, tore off the clapper from the central bell weighing 1.3 tons, and dropped the second largest bell weighing 600 kilograms to the floor. The perpetrators lowered the remaining bells down the stairs and carried them out through the church, having first torn off the clappers and left them on the bell tower floor.

Four candlesticks were taken from the lower chapel of the church. Entering the altar, the criminals took from the altar table the altar Gospel and service Gospel, altar lamps and candlesticks, a seven-branched candlestick, a crucifix from the prothesis, and a brass altar lectern. The remaining church items were scattered, and the lamps were broken. The perpetrators also broke open the church collection box.

The Lavra brotherhood filed a report with police department №4 of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Donetsk region.

We remind that the AFU filmed a video of the destruction of the Sviatohirsk Lavra skete in Bohorodychne.

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