Nazarii Zasanskyi

Nazarii Zasanskyi - Cleric of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU, Senior Military Chaplain of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU.

Nazarii Zasanskyi is an active participant in the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cherkasy Region. Since transferring to the OCU, he has taken part in numerous seizures of UOC churches in the city of Cherkasy and its surrounding areas.

He regularly incites hostility against Orthodox Christians.

In addition, he has been involved in the fabrication of criminal cases against Metropolitan Theodosii of Cherkasy and Kaniv.

On 16 November 2023, a group of OCU-affiliated raiders arrived at the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery of the UOC in Cherkasy.

Nazarii Zasanskyi was among them. Along with the raiders, a group of individuals in military-style clothing entered the monastery grounds, identifying themselves as members of the “National Corps,” police officers, and SBU personnel.

They forcibly entered the monastery, claiming that the religious community had been “re-registered.” The raiders possessed only documents related to the re-registration of the parish and technical certificates for the buildings issued by the Bureau of Technical Inventory. OCU activists asserted that a “vote on transferring the monastery community” had allegedly taken place on 10 August. Meanwhile, parishioners and the monastic community stated that no such meetings or votes had occurred.

(Source: DOZOR project on Pershyi Kozatskyi)

On 20 November 2023, just a few days later, Zasanskyi took direct part in an attack on the parishioners and clergy of the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery of the UOC in Cherkasy.

The OCU cleric was one of the leaders of the group that invaded the monastery grounds. The group climbed over the monastery fence and attacked nuns and UOC parishioners. The raiders beat people and damaged equipment to prevent believers from documenting the crime.

Afterwards, the group broke into the monastic cells, where they engaged in looting and vandalism.

(Source: DOZOR project on Pershyi Kozatskyi)

On 7 March 2024, Nazarii Zasanskyi took part in the raider seizure of the Dormition Church of the UOC in the village of Heronymivka, Cherkasy Region.

The OCU cleric entered the church premises and conducted a rite there.

[Видео/вставка]

(Source: Nazarii Zasanskyi’s personal Facebook page)

On 2 September 2024 at 10:05 p.m., OCU supporters seized the Dormition Cathedral of the UOC in the city of Zolotonosha. In order to prevent UOC parishioners and clergy from interfering with the takeover, access to the cathedral was blocked.

Zasanskyi was present during the invasion of the church.

[Видео/вставка]

(Source: UOJ)

On 14 October 2024, Nazarii Zasanskyi participated in the raider seizure of the St Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Dumantsi, Cherkasy Region.

[Видео/вставка]

(Source: Nazarii Zasanskyi’s personal Facebook page)

On 17 October 2024, he personally took part in the raider seizure of the St Michael Cathedral of the UOC in Cherkasy. He was recorded by surveillance cameras both inside and outside the cathedral.

In particular, video footage shows him issuing instructions to individuals in military uniform.

[Видео/вставка]

(Source: Project DOZOR - Pershyi Kozatskyi)

On the morning of 12 March 2025, a group of OCU-affiliated raiders broke into the Dormition Church of the UOC in the village of Blahodatne, Cherkasy Region.

Nazarii Zasanskyi himself recorded his unlawful entry into the church altar.

(Source: DOZOR project on Pershyi Kozatskyi)

On 18 March 2025, OCU raiders seized the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Burning Bush” of the UOC in Cherkasy.

The group arrived at the church accompanied by police officers and presented allegedly re-registered parish documents. The unlawful re-registration of the religious community had taken place on 28 February.

At the same time, the administration of the Cherkasy Institute of Fire Safety claimed that its agreement with the parish had “expired long ago.”

Nazarii Zasanskyi took part in the seizure of the church.

(Source: DOZOR project on Pershyi Kozatskyi)

On 6 May 2025, the St Andrew’s Episcopal Compound of the UOC in Cherkasy was forcibly transferred to the OCU.

OCU clerics entered the premises together with state agents. Police blocked the church gates.

Nazarii Zasanskyi personally broke down the door.

(Source: DOZOR project on Pershyi Kozatskyi)

On December 22, 2025, Zasansky seized the Church of Our Lady of Kazan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to believers, no one was in the church at the time of the crime. The raiders cut the locks with a grinder and gained access to the building.

The raid was led by Nazariy Zasansky, who identifies himself as a chaplain of the OCU. He arrived in Chyhyryn with a group of approximately 50 men in military uniform, who, according to eyewitnesses, identified themselves as employees of the Kazan Church.