Church of Archangel Michael, Boyarka
The Church of Archangel Michael of the UOC in Boyarka became the object of an organized seizure initiated by local authorities and clerics of the OCU. Attempts to take over the shrine began on February 25, 2023, when OCU activists, supported by Boyarka Mayor Oleksandr Zarubin, held an illegal "meeting" of outsiders, presenting it as a decision of the religious community. Despite the fact that there were significantly more UOC believers, the process was accompanied by propaganda, provocations, and pressure, while the police ignored the statements of the parishioners. Only through a court order in April 2023 were law enforcement officers obliged to open a criminal case regarding these actions.
On May 6, 2023, the seizure was carried out by force: a volunteer formation controlled by the mayor, together with OCU clerics, broke the fence and stormed the church grounds. Physical force and tear gas were used against the believers and clergy, and the rector, Archpriest Volodymyr, required medical assistance. The police effectively aided the attackers, prevented the community's lawyer from entering, and ensured the blockade of the territory while the raiders cut the doors with a grinder. The seized church was occupied by OCU cleric Vasyl Lilo, and none of the participants in the attack have been held accountable to date.
