Ladyzhyn, Church of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the UOC

Church of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the UOC

Address: Vinnytsia Region, the city of Ladyzhyn, 19 Soborna Street

On the night of January 9, 2024, a group of militants in military uniform, using a bulldozer, broke into the territory of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the UOC. The attackers broke down the church doors, beat the UOC priest, and threw him outside into the freezing cold.

The falsification of documents concerning the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Theotokos of the UOC began as early as the autumn of 2023.

On November 10, 2023, in Ladyzhyn, several dozen servicemen together with representatives of the city’s territorial community “transferred” the Kazan Church of the UOC to the OCU.

The organizers of the raider meeting to transfer the Kazan Church of the UOC to the OCU in the city of Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia Region, were Member of Parliament Mykola Kucher and the management of one of the city-forming enterprises — the MHP company (brands “Nasha Ryaba,” “Bashchynskyi,” and others).

Prior to the meeting, an “initiative group” collected signatures under an appeal calling to “hold Fr. Yevhen accountable” for his alleged “ideological subordination to a center in Moscow.” The authors of the appeal also urged residents to stop “tolerating priestly scum” in Ladyzhyn and to “rid the city of Moscow priests.” The overwhelming majority of those who signed this proclamation turned out to be MHP employees.

In addition, according to Orthodox believers in Ladyzhyn, some of the signatures were falsified — some of the people whose signatures appear on the document are not even in Ukraine.

The rector of the Kazan Church stated that the parish community had not been informed about the meeting, which took place on the premises of a local college; the event was not announced in the media or on social networks.

A significant portion of the participants in the meeting were representatives of MHP, including not only residents of Ladyzhyn but also people from other localities. Sources within the company report that many employees participated in the vote under the threat of having their exemption from mobilization revoked. To ensure workers’ attendance at the meeting, the company’s management even changed the work schedule of one of its workshops.

In addition, a group of servicemen was brought to the vote in an organized manner; they were neither parishioners of the Kazan Church nor residents of Ladyzhyn.

The event at the college took place under increased police protection — reinforcements from neighboring cities were brought in to assist the Ladyzhyn law enforcement officers.

(Source: SPZh)

On December 28, 2023, a group of OCU raiders unsuccessfully attempted to storm the church.

The seizure began at around 9:00 a.m. More than two dozen people in military uniform arrived at the church, climbed over the fence, and cut the lock on the gate.

The raiders cut down the door of the right side chapel and carried it aside. The rector of the church, Archpriest Yevhen Vorobiov, together with parishioners, stood in the doorway trying to stop the attackers.

The attackers also broke into the sacristy, but were unable to cut through the next metal door.

Parishioners rang the alarm bell, and people began to gather at the church. The raiders attempting to break into the church did not allow them to approach, using force even against women and children.

Six “priests” of the OCU, led by a so-called “dean” from Trostianets, arrived at the scene.

Police cordoned off the church and did not interfere with the seizure. Orthodox Christians managed to defend their church.

(Source: SPZh)

On the morning of January 9, 2024, a group of OCU raiders in military uniform broke into the church grounds.

Activists of Epifaniy’s structure used a bulldozer to break down the church doors. They then dragged the praying parishioners and the rector outside into the freezing cold.

Orthodox Christians were brutally beaten. The use of tear gas was reported.

[Видео/вставка]

The police, whom the believers called to the scene, took no action.

(Source: SPZh)

In January 2024, law enforcement authorities opened a criminal case regarding the violent seizure of the Kazan Church of the UOC in the city of Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia Region.

“Forty unknown persons in camouflage uniforms entered the premises of the Kazan Church,” the publication quotes its source as saying. “They aggressively expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of worship services by UOC believers, after which a conflict began. During the scuffle, a UOC clergyman sustained bodily injuries but refused hospitalization.”

According to police information, the criminal case was opened under the article on vigilantism.

(Source: SPZh)

On April 2, 2024, about 30 unknown militants broke into the territory of the church house where the clergy and parishioners of the church continued to hold worship services.

The criminal group brutally beat the rector of the church, Fr. Yevhen Vorobiov, and dragged him outside the territory.

The attackers blocked the entrance and threatened Orthodox Christians with murder.

Law enforcement officers were present at the scene and remained completely inactive.

(Source: Project “DOZOR on Pershyi Kozatskyi”)

To this day, none of the militants who attacked the church and its parishioners have been held accountable for their crimes.

OCU raiders continue to occupy the church.

*MHP (Myronivskyi Hliboproduct) is one of Ukraine’s largest agribusiness companies and a leading poultry producer and exporter. Its consumer brands include Nasha Riaba, Bashchynskyi, Qualiko, and others. The company operates internationally in the European Union, the Middle East, and other global markets, and its shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange.

In a number of cities and districts, including Ladyzhyn in Vinnytsia Region, MHP is a key economic actor whose enterprises employ a significant share of the local population. As a result, the company has substantial social and economic influence on local communities and public life in those areas.

MHP’s founder and majority shareholder is Yuriy Kosiuk.