Persecuted UOC community responds to OCU over claims of “discrediting Ukraine”

A church in Pryiutivka. Photo: Pershyi Kozatskyi

The St. George community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Pryiutivka, Kirovohrad region, has responded to statements made by the OCU’s Kropyvnytskyi “bishop,” Mark Levkiv.

A few days ago, Levkiv sent an appeal to U.S. authorities in which he alleged “provocations and aggression” on the part of Orthodox Christians. He described UOC parishioners’ testimonies about OCU actions as “discrediting Ukraine on the international stage.”

In response, the faithful of the UOC reminded him that under the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine they have the right to address international institutions when their rights are violated.

“Clearly, the very substance of our appeal of January 24, 2026, and the facts set out in it, have caused dissatisfaction among OCU representatives. And that is understandable. For despite the ongoing court proceedings, they do not want to leave us in peace. This likely explains the attempt to distort the facts, shift the emphasis, and present events in a way that is advantageous to them, while ignoring objective reality,” the community’s statement says.

Orthodox Christians also spoke in defense of the UOC’s Alexandria Eparchy and rejected Levkiv’s claim that “the leadership of the UOC MP Alexandria Eparchy formed, from among priests, a group of professional provocateurs who travel around the region and attempt to provoke physical confrontation against the faithful of our church.”

Parishioners in Pryiutovka noted that their appeal to the U.S. government was prompted by several attempted seizures of their church.

“Ukraine is discredited by the activity and impunity of those who commit unlawful acts, and by the absence of an adequate response from the authorities and law enforcement. It is not an appeal for the protection of rights that discredits Ukraine, but an alliance with those who break the law for certain purposes that compromises Ukraine,” the community stressed.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the UOC community in Pryiutivka appealed to U.S. authorities over threats and terror by the OCU.

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