Kolodne. The Seizure of the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the Village of Ternopil Region, During Which Parishioners Were Beaten

Address: Kolodne, Ternopil Oblast, 47335

According to reports from the scene, OCU supporters sought to present this seizure as a “gift” to their leader Epifaniy, who arrived in Ternopil that day.
The activists attacked the priest, dragged women away from the church and threw them to the ground, and beat men who were attempting to defend their sanctuary.

Local residents reported that the supporters of the OCU were actively assisted by the head of the local UTC (United Territorial Community).

In January 2023, village head Igor Gorbonos, who actively helped transfer the church to the OCU, said the following about parishioners from the UOC:

“Residents who did not want to transfer to the OCU are now nothing more than a sect of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate”

Local and state media also helped the OCU and reported that it was parishioners of the UOC who came with violence to take the church away from the OCU community. How can you take something away from yourself?