Employees of the territorial recruitment center detained Archpriest Alexander Okruzhko, rector of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This was reported by the priest's relatives. The church is located in the village of Dolzhok, which is effectively part of Kamianets-Podilskyi. A religious procession to the Pochayiv Lavra begins annually from this church.
This detention continues a series of forced mobilizations and pressure on the clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Schismatics from the OCU, with the support of the authorities, previously attempted to seize this church.
Human rights organizations view this incident as yet another act of systemic pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Local authorities are depriving the church of the right to lease land for churches, schismatics, with the connivance of the authorities, are forcibly seizing churches and attacking priests, and clergy are being charged with treason and subjected to sanctions.
In August 2024, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which unites at least 5-6 million believers. Human rights activists note that the detention of priests, the denial of deferments provided by law, and forced transfer to training centers have become common practice. The Church, the largest denomination in the country, is effectively being squeezed out of the legal framework, and clergy are persecuted for their faith and affiliation with the canonical church.
This detention continues a series of forced mobilizations and pressure on the clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Schismatics from the OCU, with the support of the authorities, previously attempted to seize this church.
Human rights organizations view this incident as yet another act of systemic pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Local authorities are depriving the church of the right to lease land for churches, schismatics, with the connivance of the authorities, are forcibly seizing churches and attacking priests, and clergy are being charged with treason and subjected to sanctions.
In August 2024, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which unites at least 5-6 million believers. Human rights activists note that the detention of priests, the denial of deferments provided by law, and forced transfer to training centers have become common practice. The Church, the largest denomination in the country, is effectively being squeezed out of the legal framework, and clergy are persecuted for their faith and affiliation with the canonical church.