Changes

=== 2022 War ===

=== 2022 War ===

One of the key challenges has been the Russian forces' assault on the Church. Several churches have been destroyed, and priests have been forced to evacuate sacred objects to protect them from attacks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russian forces destroy Catholic Church in Ukraine, as another parish prepares for attack|url=https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/russian-forces-destroy-catholic-church-in-ukraine-as-another-parish-prepares-for-attack|date=14 August 2024|publisher=Catholic Standard}}</ref> Furthermore, Russian authorities in the occupied territories, including Zaporizhzhia, have outlawed the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and other Catholic ministries. This includes groups like the Knights of Columbus and Caritas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russia bans Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Catholic ministries|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/russia-bans-ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-catholic-ministries/103517|date=8 December 2023|publisher=Union of Catholics Asia Network}}</ref> Church leaders have also been targeted for assassination, with Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, being forced to move between safe houses to avoid danger.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russia has Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the crosshairs|url=https://www.churchinneed.org/russia-has-ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-in-the-crosshairs/|date=14 March 2022|publisher=Aid the Church in Need}}</ref> The ongoing conflict has caused significant damage and posed serious threats to both the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and its followers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: Putin Is “Destroying the Basic Principles of Peace”|url=https://bitterwinter.org/ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-putin-and-peace/|date=24 February 2022|publisher=Bitter Winter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Russian drone attack damages Kyiv's Catholic cathedral|url=https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/russian-drone-attack-damages-kyivs-catholic-cathedral|date=27 November 2023|publisher=Detroit Catholic}}</ref>

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) has suffered severe persecution during the ongoing conflict with Russian forces. Churches have been destroyed, sacred objects evacuated, and clergy targeted for assassination. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the UGCC, has had to move between safe houses for protection.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russian forces destroy Catholic Church in Ukraine, as another parish prepares for attack|url=https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/russian-forces-destroy-catholic-church-in-ukraine-as-another-parish-prepares-for-attack|date=14 August 2024|publisher=Catholic Standard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Russia has Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the crosshairs|url=https://www.churchinneed.org/russia-has-ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-in-the-crosshairs/|date=14 March 2022|publisher=Aid the Church in Need}}</ref>  

Russian occupation forces have intensified their repression against Catholics in Donetsk region, sealing off Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) churches and barring worshippers from entering, according to the Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF). Since the start of 2024, Russian militants identifying as "Cossacks" have seized UGCC properties and expelled clergy from the occupied territories. Faithful have appealed to officials of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), but no response has been provided, leaving Greek Catholics without access to their places of worship. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church reported it now has no clergy in the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. In Berdyansk, two UGCC priests, Redemptorist Fathers Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Geleta, were detained in November 2022. Father Levitsky is believed to be in a Russian prison in the Rostov region, while Father Geleta is reportedly held in Russian-occupied Crimea under harsh conditions, including acute diabetes. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk stated that both priests have been subjected to severe torture.  

Russian occupation authorities have banned the UGCC and other Catholic organizations, including Caritas and the Knights of Columbus, in areas such as Zaporizhzhia, labeling them extremist. By 2024, UGCC clergy were completely absent from Russian-occupied regions, as militants seized church properties and barred access to places of worship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russia bans Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Catholic ministries|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/russia-bans-ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-catholic-ministries/103517|date=8 December 2023|publisher=Union of Catholics Asia Network}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Russian occupation forces close more Catholic churches in Ukraine|url=https://catholicreview.org/russian-occupation-forces-close-more-catholic-churches-in-ukraine/|date=27 March 2024|publisher=Catholic Review}}</ref> Two priests, Fathers Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Geleta, were detained in Berdyansk in 2022 and reportedly face torture and harsh conditions in Russian detention facilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russia bans Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Catholic ministries|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/russia-bans-ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-catholic-ministries/103517|date=8 December 2023|publisher=Union of Catholics Asia Network}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Russian occupation forces close more Catholic churches in Ukraine|url=https://catholicreview.org/russian-occupation-forces-close-more-catholic-churches-in-ukraine/|date=27 March 2024|publisher=Catholic Review}}</ref>

In December 2022, the Kremlin-installed administration in Zaporizhzhia banned the UGCC and other Catholic organizations, accusing them of extremist activities. This suppression aligns with a broader pattern of religious persecution by Russian forces, which have damaged or destroyed at least 660 religious structures since 2022, according to experts. Archbishop Borys Gudziak highlighted that religious institutions in Russia function only if aligned with the government, a policy now extended to occupied Ukrainian territories.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://catholicreview.org/russian-occupation-forces-close-more-catholic-churches-in-ukraine/ |title=Russian occupation forces close more Catholic churches in Ukraine |date=March 27, 2024 |publisher=Catholic Review }}</ref>

Since 2022, Russian forces have damaged or destroyed at least 660 religious buildings, according to experts. Archbishop Borys Gudziak has highlighted that religious institutions in Russian-controlled territories can only operate if aligned with Kremlin policies, further underscoring the systematic suppression of religious freedom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: Putin Is “Destroying the Basic Principles of Peace”|url=https://bitterwinter.org/ukrainian-greek-catholic-church-putin-and-peace/|date=24 February 2022|publisher=Bitter Winter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Russian drone attack damages Kyiv's Catholic cathedral|url=https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/russian-drone-attack-damages-kyivs-catholic-cathedral|date=27 November 2023|publisher=Detroit Catholic}}</ref>

=== Calendar reform ===

=== Calendar reform ===