Bezuhlivka. OCU Raiders Cut Locks on UOC Church

St. Archangel Michael Church of the UOC

Address: Chernihiv Oblast, village of Bezuhlivka

The St. Michael's Church in Bezuhlivka is an architectural monument from the early 19th century, built between 1805 and 1835. The church survived Soviet persecution: its walls were used as a grain storage facility and a stable, and from the 1960s onward the church became active again and has since continuously belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

A group of OCU raiders operated according to a standard criminal scheme. A group of individuals with no connection to the church's religious community falsified documents for the church.

An illegal re-registration of property rights took place. At the same time, the raiders actively incited hatred against UOC clergy.

The church was seized by a criminal group that cut the locks and occupied the premises.

In September 2025, a criminal OCU group organized an illegal meeting of the territorial community.

A group of individuals with no connection to the parish announced, on behalf of the religious community of the UOC's St. Michael's Church, the start of a re-registration process for the church.

The church's parishioners left the meeting without taking part in the vote.

From that moment, the process of falsifying documents for the church began.

(Source: "Suspilne. Chernihiv")

On January 28, 2026, a group of raiders received an order from the head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, Viacheslav Chaus, to make changes to the state register.

The church was illegally transferred into the ownership of the OCU.

(Source: "Suspilne. Chernihiv")

On April 12, 2026, the rector of the church, Archpriest Yaroslav Sobolevsky, stated his categorical disagreement with the claim that what had occurred could be called an expression of the will of the real community.

According to him, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church community left the hall when it became clear that the meeting was being conducted with violations: "We walked out of the hall because all of it was unjust — they were doing whatever they pleased. And those who stayed were people who, in all likelihood, had never set foot in a church in their entire lives. It was the village community that voted, not the religious community."

The priest also rejected accusations that he had allegedly refused to conduct funeral services for fallen servicemen. "None of that is true. Nobody ever approached me. Of course, I would want them all to return alive and well. But if such a need arises — we have never refused and do not refuse," said Father Yaroslav.

On Easter, April 12, OCU supporters held a "religious service" near the St. Michael's Church, having invited a military chaplain from Nizhyn.

(Source: UOJ)

On April 16, 2026, OCU representatives seized the UOC's St. Michael's Church.

The raiders cut the locks and burst into the church, declaring it their own.

(Source: UOJ)