OCU Raiders Staged Attack on Seized Church in Kyiv – Media

Participants in the scandal near the seized UOC church in Bykivnia. Photo: Horobtsov's Facebook

Raiders of the OCU who seized the St. John's Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Bykivnia district of Kyiv attempted to stage a scandal on the eve of a court hearing on the case of the seizure of the shrine. This was reported by the Telegram channel "DOZOR na Pershomu Kozatskomu".

The alleged attack on the church was announced by the Donetsk OCU "metropolitan" Serhiy Horobtsov, who turned the seized church into his warehouse and headquarters. According to him, unknown individuals "kicked the church fence, threw stones at the church gates, attempting to enter the church grounds," and also shouted "Akhmat sila" and something about Rus and the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, which he allegedly could not make out. All the attackers, according to his account, were in a state of intoxication. He also reported that the police who arrived at the scene detained no one, after which he summoned the Security Service of Ukraine to the church grounds.

Sources within the UOC parish claim that the "unknown attackers" are several local residents suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, whose drunken disturbances beneath the church windows occur on a regular basis.

"Horobtsov's story raises serious doubts, because our sources find it hard to believe that these individuals suddenly began shouting about Rus and Seraphim of Sarov instead of their usual profanities," the statement reads.

Parishioners also report that on the eve of the incident, on September 1, 2026, they saw one of the OCU activists handing money to these individuals near a supermarket. UOC faithful believe the scandal was orchestrated by the raiders to pressure the public and draw attention ahead of the court hearings on the case of the church seizure.

As the UOJ reported, the OCU showed how the doors of the Kyiv church in Bykivnia were cut off.

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