Kyiv Monastery Standoff: Church Accused of Russia Ties Resists Eviction

Ukrainian officials are demanding that priests suspected of recognizing the authority of the Moscow church vacate the Monastery of the Caves, a historic Christian pilgrimage center in Kyiv. The complex is formally controlled by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, but some priests have been suspected of harboring allegiances to Moscow. The issue is coming to a head as the priests defy eviction orders, resulting in scuffles and standoffs. The fight is rooted in the formal split between the Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox churches in 2019, and tensions have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.