Police with SBU drive UOC pilgrims out of Khmelnytsky region

The pilgrims were stopped 12 kilometers from Kamyanets-Podilsky. Photo: UOJ

On August 18, 2023, a bus from Rivne to Kamyanets-Podilsky, which was carrying 20 UOC pilgrims, was stopped 12 kilometers from the city by the police together with the SBU officers, believers told the UOJ.

The reason for the stop was not explained to the driver or passengers. Representatives of law enforcement agencies did not draw up any protocols. The driver's license was confiscated without explanation, although he showed them documents stating that the purpose of the trip was tourism.

After an hour of downtime, representatives of the SBU told the passengers that they would be expelled from the Khmelnytsky region, since the security forces consider them participants in the cross procession from Kamyanets-Podilsky to Pochaiv, and processions are now prohibited. About half of the pilgrims got off the bus and decided to get to Kamyanets-Podilsky on their own. The second half remained in the cabin. According to the believers, they are being taken to the border of the Ternopil region. A police escort car drives ahead. What will happen next, they do not know.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to the Kamyanets-Podilsky mayor, the authorities would do everything to prevent the procession from taking place.

Read also

In Ukraine, Trump’s 'spiritual advisor' reassured of religious freedom

Pastor Mark Burns stated that Ukraine, despite the war, is a "beacon of religious freedom."

Lavra brethren congratulate Metropolitan Pavel on 31 years as abbot

The monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have expressed hope that they will soon be able to pray again with their abbot.