Ukrainian Authorities Cut Off Electricity Supply to Kremenets Convent Nuns

Information and Education Department of UOC – OCP News Service – 24/09/2023

Kyiv – Ukraine: The Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported on September 18, 2023, that authorities had cut off the electricity supply to the Kremenets Convent of the Theophany.

According to an official statement, this historic convent is home to 80 nuns who have diligently maintained the property, including the Theophany Cathedral, cells, and a belfry, which were initially confiscated during the Soviet era and later returned for use by the nuns after Ukraine gained independence.

For the past 32 years, the nuns have carried out repair work and maintained the state-owned property at their own expense. However, the state is now attempting to evict them from their convent. As part of this effort, the Kremenets Distribution Zone of the Ternopiloblenergo Public Joint-Stock Company disconnected the convent’s electricity supply.

The Director of the Kremenets Distribution Zone, Volodymyr Tabachuk, issued a warning on August 31, 2023, about the impending power disconnection. In response, Abbess Dymytriia cited Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 206 from March 5, 2022, which prohibited power disconnections for the population until the end of martial law.

The disconnection of electricity, especially during the upcoming autumn-winter period, is deemed inhumane and has been strongly protested by the Abbess. It is important to note that both the state-claimed buildings and the convent’s own buildings, which are not subject to electricity disconnection, were connected to the same power supply line. Nevertheless, local distribution zone employees cut off electricity for the entire convent, a clear violation of the law. The convent houses 80 nuns, including several elderly individuals.

Source:

OCP News Service