The Ukrainian Orthodox Church reports an attempt to seize a church in Vyshhorod

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church claims an attempt to seize the St. Panteleimon Church in Vyshhorod, Kyiv Oblast, by supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

It is reported that clerics of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine cut the locks on the church early in the morning, disabling the alarm system. They prevented supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from entering, then placed their own lock and inserted screws.

Around 60 supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church came out to defend the church. After several hours of conflict, they pushed supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine beyond the church’s territory.

It is reported that this was the second attempt to seize the church in three days.

In addition, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported that “priest” Yuriy Bolshakov, from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, who twice attempted to seize the Panteleimon Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Vyshhorod, profited from the sale of cars donated by benefactors for the Ukrainian army, and was repeatedly detained by the police for drunk driving. This was revealed in a video address by the rector of the Vyshhorod church, Archpriest Dionysius Denysenko.

“Bolshakov has legal problems. Policemen themselves off the record said that he had been caught multiple times under Article 130 – driving under the influence. People call and tell about violations of the law – fraudulent actions. He said he takes cars as humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and there were instances where he resold them in Kyiv. What do you call such kind people?!” stated Archpriest Dionysius Denysenko.

The priest noted that on February 24 at seven in the morning, intoxicated Bolshakov came to the Panteleimon Church, took the keys from a parishioner working there, pushed her away, closed the door, placed his lock, and declared: “This is our church.”

According to Dionysius, numerous witnesses to the attempt to seize the church could confirm that Bolshakov and other clerics from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine emitted the smell of alcohol.