Krivoy Rog, Dnipropetrovsk Province, Ukraine, October 8, 2025
Photo: pravlife.info
A 35-year-old man attacked a priest during Sunday Liturgy at a church in Krivoy Rog, Dnipropetrovsk Province, on October 5. The district police department announced the incident on October 6, reports Orthodox Life.
According to police, the attack occurred around 8:00 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Martyr Onuphry of Krivoy Rog. During the Sunday service, the attacker approached Fr. Vladimir Zlatov and swung an axe at him.
The attack took place during the Little Entrance, when the priest was standing in the Royal Doors.
“By the mercy of God, the priest managed to protect himself with the Gospel he was holding in his hands, and the blow from the axe handle struck it, while the blade hit the miter, which saved the priest’s life,” the diocese statement said.
Fr. Vladimir. Photo: spzh.eu
Fr. Vladimir told reporters that the attacker had been standing in the church from the beginning of the Liturgy, pretending to pray. “At the Little Entrance, he pulled out an axe from under his jacket and headed toward the altar. When I turned around with the Gospel, the attacker struck. The axe handle hit the Gospel, the blade hit my miter,” Fr. Vladimir recounted, reports the Union of Orthodox Journalists.
After the attack, the assailant attempted to flee, waving the axe to keep parishioners away. Police officers arrived in time and detained him.
The attacker has been charged under Article 296, Part 4 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to Fr. Vladimir, the man is registered at a psychoneurological dispensary. He is believed to be a military serviceman, though police have yet to confirm. The motive for the attack was reportedly revenge for personal problems, though the priest himself wasn’t connected to these issues—the man simply attacked the first person he encountered.
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