OCU supporters seized two churches of the canonical UOC in western Ukraine

Supporters of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), with the support of local authorities, have seized two churches in the Chernivtsi region from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). This was announced on May 5 by the Ukrainian Union of Orthodox Journalists (UOJ).

"On May 4, 2025, in the village of Banilov-Podgorny, Chernivtsi region, supporters of the OCU, with the support of local authorities, held a territorial meeting at which two local churches of the UOC were "transferred" to the Dumenko structure at once," the Telegram channel says.

It is specified that the meeting was held not in temples, but in the square. The parishioners did not participate in this event, which casts doubt on the legality of the vote.

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On April 12, the UOJ reported that representatives of the OCU, beating parishioners, seized the St. Nicholas Church of the Canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), located in the village of Verkhniye Stanovtsy, Chernivtsi region. After that, police officers entered the territory, they pushed people aside and made a living corridor.