Ukrainian church in Crimea attacked by armed men

KIEV, Ukraine – Armed men Sunday, June 1, attacked a Ukrainian Orthodox church in Crimea, beating up a priest and church-goers including a pregnant woman, the Kiev patriarchate said.

Calling the attack “a planned action”, the patriarchate said police who arrived at the scene 3 hours after the attack “took the side of the assailants, explaining that the patriarchate of Kiev was carrying out anti-Russian activities in Crimea.”

The Orthodox Church is the largest denomination in Ukraine, but is split between those tied to Moscow and those linked to a new patriarchate set up in Kiev in 1992 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Following Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in March, Kiev Patriarch Filaret — labelled Russia an “enemy” whose attack on Ukraine was doomed to fail. – Rappler.com