On May 9, 2023, the Legal Department of the UOC reported that the Podolsky District Court of Kyiv ordered the police to open criminal proceedings on inciting religious hatred and hatred, insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs, which took place on April 8, 2023 on the air of Channel 5 in program “Rendezvous with Yanina Sokolova”. This was reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC.

During this program, Yanina Sokolova, in the presence of a “priest” of the OCU, used blasphemous and insulting terms regarding the Holy Communion, which is one of the most important Sacraments of Christians, and also called the UOC and its believers with insulting words, discussed the need and timing of its complete destruction. The statements of believers, aimed at protecting the Church, were called “insane heresy.”

As we reported earlier, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church appealed to the National Police because of the commission of a criminal offense by representatives of Channel 5 in connection with inciting religious hatred and hatred and insulting the feelings of citizens of Ukraine regarding their religious beliefs.