OCU awards deputy whose security firm seized UOC church in Odesa

Andriy Babenko and OCU clergy. Photo: Screenshot from the deputy's Facebook video

Odesa City Council deputy Andriy Babenko has received the Order of the Holy Archangel Michael, Second Class, “for services to the Local Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the faithful people.” He announced the award on his Facebook page.

“For me, this is not just an award. It is a great honor, a responsibility, and a reminder that every good deed must be continued,” Babenko wrote.

He also thanked the OCU leadership for its high assessment of his work and said he wished peace for Ukraine and intended “to continue helping people, keeping his word, and doing good.”

At the same time, Babenko’s name is linked to the seizure of St. Alexander Church of the Odesa Eparchy of the UOC in June 2026. According to the eparchy’s clergy, forceful support for the raiders was provided at the time by employees of the Samson security firm, which is owned by the deputy.

During the seizure, as the Odesa Eparchy reported, representatives of the security company beat and strangled a UOC priest and blocked the entrances to the church, preventing the faithful from attending the service.

After the incident, Babenko publicly denied giving any orders to his employees. However, several days later, the head of the Odesa Eparchy of the OCU, Afanasiy Yavorsky, presented the deputy with a church award.

As the UOJ previously reported, during the seizure of St. Alexander Church in Odesa, OCU supporters forcibly pushed out the clergy and parishioners of the UOC, and a priest sustained bodily injuries.

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