Reserve сuts off locks on two churches in Lower Lavra
Access was restricted at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to the Exaltation of the Cross Church and the Warm Church; the brotherhood lost access to the last churches where services were still being held.
On February 17, 2026, at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, staff of the national reserve cut off the locks on two additional churches in the Lower Lavra. This was reported by the Lavra’s attorney, Archpriest Nykyta Chekman.
The actions were carried out on the day of a court hearing concerning the UOC’s access to the churches of the Upper Lavra. It is claimed that reserve staff forced entry and replaced the locks at the Exaltation of the Cross Church and the Warm Church, to which the monastic brotherhood had retained access up to that point.
In the published video, four men carrying tool cases approach the doors of one of the churches and carry out technical work at the entrance.
As a result, the monks’ access to the shrines has effectively been blocked.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a court hearing in the Upper Lavra case will take place on February 18.
