Supporters of the schismatic structure of the "Orthodox Church of Ukraine" on October 17, 2024, during a repeated assault, captured the Archangel Michael Cathedral in Cherkasy, among the parishioners and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church there are victims. Metropolitan Feodosiy of Cherkassy and Kanevsky was hospitalized.
The chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, acting head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, V.R. Legoyd, made a statement on his telegram channel:
"We have once again witnessed a blatant act of terror by schismatics towards the faithful of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. As a result of two coordinated attacks, the Archangel Michael Cathedral in Cherkasy was captured; the extremists realized their plan, despite the attempts of believers to defend their native temple.
The target of armed terrorists, many of whom, according to Ukrainian journalists, are pagans, were peaceful believers, including women, children, elderly people, who were shot and gassed.
The state authorities allowed the extremists to seize the temple, as always, without interfering in the beating of believers. Ukraine's Western patrons, as usual, will turn a blind eye to what is happening. After all, those who destroy Orthodoxy, which is common to the peoples of historical Russia, should feel support from the outside and enjoy full freedom of action, such conventions as freedom of religion can be ignored in this case.
We pray for those who have suffered, and despite everything bravely continues to profess their faith, remaining faithful to the Church of God. We believe that the numerous crimes against innocent believers will sooner or later receive proper assessment and retribution."