Monks were reportedly detained before demolition and all cellular communications were jammed in the area.
Zelensky’s government in Ukraine demolished a centuries-old historic Ukrainian Orthodox chapel in Kiev, according to local reports.
Chapel of Desyatinny Monastery/Tithe Church demolished overnight in Ukraine, the previous Church was destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1935. Today it is destroyed again by Ukraine in 2024. pic.twitter.com/t3dkRylr6m
— Theophan (@uncreated_light) May 17, 2024
Late Thursday, buses with police and military were seen arriving at the Tithe Church in Kiev, reports the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s (UOC) Telegram.
Less than an hour before the destruction began, law enforcement officers were trying to detain the monks of the monastery.
Around 11 pm, the area was cordoned off by police and people in military uniform, according to another Telegram channel.
#Ukraine
The Church of the Tithes of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in #Kiev has been cordoned off by police and military.Machinery has begun demolishing the church, according to Nikita Chekman, a lawyer representing the interests of the UOC.
?? pic.twitter.com/U3gXZeH8Ag— Mina (@Mina696645851) May 17, 2024
Shortly after, empty trucks were seen heading towards the church.
The Jewish president of Ukraine has ordered the demolition of an Orthodox Church in the center of Kiev. All cellular and wireless signals are off in the area: pic.twitter.com/s9Z5m0TJ4c
— Bashkarma? (@Karmabash) May 16, 2024
Around 11:30 pm, Archpriest Nikita Chekman wrote on his Telegram channel that they began to destroy the temple using special equipment.
All cellular communications were jammed in the area, according to multiple reports.
“The temple consecrated by His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir and His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy no longer exists,” reports Sputnik, citing the monastery’s social media. “The Monastery clarified that the miraculous icon of the Mother of God ‘Vladimirskaya-Desyatinnaya’ is intact.”
“Last year, the Ukrainian authorities unleashed what amounted to be their biggest wave of persecution against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the country’s modern history.”
Notably, earlier this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken justified President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to postpone elections.
“Sometimes saving democracy requires suspending democracy” -Blinken
As long as they avoid peace with Russia, their puppet can stay in power.pic.twitter.com/yL68QuYxHX
— Libertarian Party of Georgia (@LPGeorgia) May 14, 2024
“That’s why we’re working with the government and civil society groups to shore up Ukraine’s election infrastructure,” said Blinken Tuesday during an unannounced visit to Ukraine. “That way, as soon as Ukrainians agree that conditions allow, all Ukrainians – all Ukrainians, including those displaced by Russia’s aggression – can exercise their right to vote.”
“People in Ukraine and around the world can have confidence that the voting process is free, fair, secure.”