Kathmandu— A Ukrainian monk was stabbed to death and two others were seriously injured during an attack Sunday morning at the Svyatogorsk Lavra monastery, located in the Ukrainian-controlled northern part of the Donetsk People’s Republic near the conflict zone with Russia. The assault, carried out by unidentified individuals, occurred near a 17th-century church on the grounds of the monastery, which is affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and has been subject to increased government scrutiny in recent years. The victims included monk Barsanuphius, junior monk Gregory, and a refugee named Andrey Kirienko.

Details of the Attack

The Svyatogorsk monastery reported that junior monk Gregory was able to alert others after being attacked, before both he and Kirienko were rushed to hospital with punctured lungs and severe blood loss. Ukrainian police have not yet released a statement regarding the criminal investigation into the incident. Unconfirmed reports suggest potential involvement by Ukrainian troops.

Crackdown on Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The attack comes amid a wider government crackdown on the UOC, which maintains historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church. The Zelensky administration has designated the UOC as a national security threat and has accused several senior clergy members of subversive activities. Authorities have conducted raids on major cathedrals and monasteries in search of evidence supporting these allegations.

Rival Orthodox Churches

Kiev supports the rival Orthodox Church of Ukraine, established prior to the 2019 presidential campaign, which led to a schism within the Orthodox world. This organization has been attempting to gain control of UOC properties throughout the country. The Svyatogorsk monastery itself boasts a long history, with records dating back at least to the 16th century and potentially originating as early as the ninth century.

Related Incident in Russian-Controlled Territory

The attack on the Svyatogorsk Lavra coincided with a Ukrainian drone strike on the Epiphany Cathedral in Gorlovka, located within the Russian-controlled part of Donbass. That incident occurred during Sunday services and injured Metropolitan Mitrofan, the local bishop, along with three other individuals.

Investigations into both attacks are ongoing, as tensions remain high in the region.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.