Russian occupation authorities dismantle dome of Ukrainian cathedral in Simferopol, Crimea

The Russian occupation authorities of Crimea have dismantled the dome of the Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr and Olha, Equal to the Apostles, of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in Simferopol.

Source: Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets

Details: The commissioner added that he received this information from Metropolitan Klyment of Simferopol and Crimea.

Metropolitan Klyment told Lubinets that the constant pressure of the occupation authorities and the eviction of the Crimean Eparchy from this Cathedral had effectively destroyed the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula.

"In its aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation continues to destroy churches, imprison and torture clergy, and persecutes representatives of religious communities in the temporary occupied territories of Ukraine who are not loyal to the occupation authorities and the Russian Orthodox Church," Lubinets said.

The commissioner added that he had sent inquiries about the destruction of the Ukrainian cathedral by the Russians and the persecution of followers of the OCU to the United Nations. He also called on the international community to respond to another crime against the religion of the followers of the Crimean Eparchy of the OCU.

A few days ago, the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea reported that the occupiers dismantled the dome of the Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr and Olha on 8 April.

They also reported that since the beginning of the occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, the occupation authorities have continued to exert pressure on the Crimean Eparchy of the OCU on the peninsula. As a result of these actions, the number of parishes and priests of the OCU in Crimea has sharply decreased: there were 49 religious communities before the occupation, and only 7 were left as of 24 February 2022.

For reference: The Simferopol Cathedral of Saints Volodymyr and Olha, Equal to the Apostles,  of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, on which the dome is now being dismantled, was seized by the occupation authorities a year ago – in May 2023.

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