27 Jul 2018 16:19

Situation at Kyiv church events calm - police

KYIV. July 27 (Interfax) - About 5,000 law enforcement officers and National Guard servicemen are on site at the cross procession of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate to mark the 1030th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus in Kyiv, Ukrainian First Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Yarovoy said.

"Policemen, national guardsmen, and State Emergency Situations Service specialists are carefully coordinating their actions to ensure the safety of the many people out on the streets of the city. Bomb disposal experts and police dog handlers inspected the route of the cross procession this morning to prevent any terrorist attacks. The current situation is calm and under control," the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's press service quoted Yarovoy as saying on Friday afternoon.

Law enforcement will be patrolling until the event ends on Friday evening, Yarovoy said.

"Tightened security measures will be still in effect in the capital tomorrow, when believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate will undertake a cross procession for the united local orthodox church," he said.