The Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported that its church near Zhytomyr was set on fire, with the building completely destroyed by flames

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported the arson of its church dedicated to the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Zeremlya, Zhytomyr region. The church was completely destroyed by fire.

A post about this appeared today on the website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“On the evening of September 4, 2024, in the village of Zeremlya, Baranivskyi district, Zhytomyr region, the church dedicated to the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos burned down.
The church was completely destroyed inside and out,” the post said.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine added that the fire destroyed the roof, ceilings, and all the property inside the building.

“All the circumstances of the incident are being investigated by specialists,” noted the main office of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Zhytomyr region.

According to the diocesan press service, based on preliminary police findings, the fire was caused by arson, which was deliberately committed by an unknown perpetrator.

Earlier this spring, media reported the arson of the Greek Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Lviv.

In 2020, a wave of arson attacks targeted churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church across Ukraine. During the Easter holidays, four church buildings, three of them monasteries, were set on fire.