On September 28, 2023, in the afternoon, supporters of the OCU with people in balaclavas seized the church in honor of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel in the village of Staraya Zhadova, Storozhynets district in Bukovyna. This is reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

It is noteworthy that the seizure occurred on the second day after the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross in the village, where the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko grew up.

It is noted that the men in balaclavas were brought on a passenger bus. They, along with the police, stood at the entrance to the church and did not allow parishioners, providing an opportunity for supporters of the OCU to break the doors of the church.

The diocese admits that organized such a “cover-up”” Mykola Gergelyuk.

“In some photos from under the balaclava recognizable features of his face. Recall that he participated in the seizure of the temple of the UOC in the village of Mikhalcha and brought there “titushki” from Kolomyia. He was also noticed during conflicts in the villages of Zadubrovka, Dobrynovka, etc.”, – reported in the Chernivtsi diocese.