Kyiv monastery eviction resisted by church with alleged Russia ties

Members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery refused entry to government commission representatives, defying an eviction order. The Ukrainian government has accused the church of maintaining ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, which has supported Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The UOC has said it broke all links with the Russian Church in May 2022. The government claimed that the monks violated their lease by making alterations to the historic site and other technical infractions. The UOC disputed any violations, calling the claims a pretext.