Police have detained the two men who entered the territory of St. Panteleimon Orthodox Church in Melitopol, Ukraine early in the morning on Tuesday and inflicted fatal injuries on the church guard, reports the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

As previously reported, the guard, 66-year-old Anatoly, was found by another church worker later in the morning. He had remained conscious throughout the night, though he later died in the hospital. The men are local residents, born in 1982 and 1988. Both have previous convictions.

Both attackers have been detained according to Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. They face charges of robbery and intentional grievous bodily injury and up to 15 years imprisonment and confiscation of property if convicted. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

The men were intoxicated when they entered the territory to rob the church. When Anatoly confronted them, they severely beat him, then sat down to continue drinking as he bled on the floor. In the end, they made away with only $11.38 and some of Anatoly’s personal items.

June 22, 2018