On July 4, 2023, there was an attempt to seize the UOC Cathedral of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Bila Tserkva. Live video was published on Instagram by the Bila Tserkva diocese.

Men of athletic build in shorts climbed over the fence and tried to break into the cathedral. There were parishioners near the main entrance. The invaders shouted “Glory to the nation – death to the enemies”, “shame” and so on.

The attempted seizure was led by a OCU “priest” and a member of the Bila Tserkva City Council from Euro Solidarity, Nikolai Gopaynich.

Metropolitan Augustin, who was also on the territory of the cathedral, told Gopaynich that the community would not leave its church without a court decision.