Near Pochaiv Lavra, unknown men attempt to abduct seminary student

Abduction. Photo: tvmnews.mt

On March 16, 2026, in Pochaiv, a group of unknown men attacked a student of the Pochaiv Theological Seminary and attempted to abduct him, reports the Telegram channel "Pershyi Kozatskyi". The incident occurred around 7:50 PM when the young man was heading to the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra.

According to the monastery brotherhood's report, a minibus cut off the seminarian at high speed, while two other vehicles simultaneously blocked his path from behind. About 15 men jumped out of the vehicles, acting in coordination as if during a pre-planned special operation. The attackers surrounded the student, depriving him of the ability to step away or call for help, and began exerting crude psychological pressure. The perpetrators shouted threats, behaved aggressively, and attempted to forcibly drag the seminarian into the minibus.

The abduction was thwarted only thanks to the intervention of concerned people who were walking to the monastery at that moment. Upon seeing witnesses, the attackers hastily got into their vehicles and fled the scene. Police were called to the scene and documented the assault. An ambulance crew also arrived. Medical personnel diagnosed the victim with a sharp increase in blood pressure and consequences of severe nervous shock, after which the student was hospitalized.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that TRC staff detained a Pochaiv Seminary lecturer.

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