Media incite hatred against UOC over construction of ROCOR temple near Kyiv

The St John of Kronstadt Monastery of ROCOR (V-V) in the village of Mala Soltanivka. Photo: glavcom

Ukrainian media are reporting that the "Russian Church" is allegedly constructing a "Moscow Kremlin" near Kyiv illegally. Although the construction is being carried out by ROCOR (V-V) (a faction that split from the main ROCOR structure), journalists are using this situation to incite hatred against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Glavcom reports that three representatives of "Servant of the People" (Oleh Dunda, Oleksandr Aliksiichuk and Vitaly Bezgin) have appealed to the SBU, asking it to investigate the alleged illegal construction of the St John of Kronstadt Monastery by the religious community "St John of Kronstadt Monastery" in the village of Mala Soltanivka, Fastiv district.

"It is widely known that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad have always been tools of the Russian Federation for spreading its narratives: they openly supported Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories, engaged in subversive activities in Ukraine, etc.," the "Servants" state in their letter to the SBU.

The media claim that the investigation into the construction was prompted by a complaint from local residents to the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

"This massive monastery construction began in the early 2000s and has continued to this day. While this religious site is not directly related to the notorious UOC (MP), it falls into the 'risk zone' as part of the rather obscure structure—Russian Church Abroad," the report states.

As reported by the UOJ, the Pochaiv Lavra has responded to the latest falsehoods from the media about a "contract breach".

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