Raiders from OCU seize the church in Lesnyky by cutting locks at night

On January 10, 2024, raiders from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) cut locks and seized the Transfiguration Church in the village of Lesnyky, Kyiv Oblast, as reported by "Dozor na 'Pershomu Kozatskomu'" ("Patrol on the First Cossack").

Details of the seizure are still being clarified.

As previously reported by the UOJ, in April 2022, during the liturgy on Palm Sunday, activists-raiders, under the guise of a religious community, transferred the church to the OCU. The UOC faithful stated that behind the illegal collection of signatures was "Metropolitan" of the OCU, Alexander (Drabinko).

Members of the legitimate religious community reiterated their loyalty to the UOC, stating that they do not wish to switch allegiances.