A violent confrontation broke out between believers of rival Orthodox churches after the handover of a cathedral in the central Ukrainian city of Cherkasy.
St. Michael's Cathedral, which has been designated a garrison church for Ukraine's armed forces, was the site of a night liturgy when about 100 people in camouflage and balaclavas forcefully broke into the grounds early on October 17.
The tensions surrounding St. Michael's Cathedral follow Ukraine's broader efforts to curb the influence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has historically been linked to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Despite declaring independence from Moscow in 2022, the UOC is still viewed with suspicion by Ukrainian authorities due to its alleged pro-Russian stance.
Video from the incident escalating into a physical clash between believers of the rival churches.
Several people were injured in the clashes and were being treated by doctors, according to Zoya Vovk, a spokeswoman for the National Police in the Cherkasy region.
UOC representatives reportedly broke through the entrance gates and lobbed tear gas into a crowd of Orthodox Church of Ukraine believers.
Witnesses said the church's UOC priests and parishioners barricaded themselves inside the cathedral and refused entry to others.
An RFE/RL correspondent reported from the site that the confrontation ended only after police and activists arrived.
The senior military chaplain of the Cherkasy region, Father Nazariy, told RFE/RL that local worshipers had initially occupied the church at night, but were later ejected by what he described as "Russian activists" loyal to the Moscow Patriarchate.
"Prayers for our soldiers should be heard here," Father Nazariy said, adding that UOC members shunned Ukrainian soldiers, viewing them as enemies.
A service in Ukrainian was eventually held in the church.
Vovk confirmed that an investigation for "hooliganism" had been opened.
