Individuals in police and military uniform seize UOC church in Biloziria village

DECR Communication Service, 22/09/2026

The historical Church of the Holy Transfiguration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Biloziria village, Cherkasy region, has been seized by police officers and individuals in military uniform.

As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reports citing Dozor Telegram channel, the raiders entered the church after the Divine Liturgy had ended, when most of parishioners had already gone home. Inside the church, a priest was celebrating a memorial service with several people in prayerful attendance.

The individuals dressed in police and military uniform commanded the priest to leave the building immediately and said that the church was now “the OCU property.” When the parishioners appealed to the village council for an explanation, they were told that a certain “community” had allegedly formalized the “transfer to the OCU.”

Member of Parliament Serhii Rudyk, a support of the schismatic OCU, said that the first OCU “services” would take place in the seized church as early as 27^th September. Meanwhile, the OCU supporters had their own building in Biloziria, constructed with Mr Rudyk’s assistance. Nevertheless, they decided to deprive the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the opportunity to gather for worship in their own church.

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Individuals in police and military uniform seize UOC church in Biloziria village

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons