Documentation of a Case of Public Intimidation of Believers by the Security Service of Ukraine
On December 24, 2025, an account on the social media platform TikTok operating on behalf of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) published a 17-second video.
The video shows officers of SBU special units in full combat gear and armed, forcibly entering a premises by breaking down a door. Superimposed over the footage is the caption:
“Who comes caroling to those who celebrate Christmas on January 7?”
The video is accompanied by the traditional Ukrainian Christmas carol “Dobryi vechir tobi, pane hospodariu” (“Good evening to you, master of the house”), which mockingly underscores the idea of invading someone’s home on Christmas. In the caption to the video, published on behalf of the SBU, it is stated: “Everyone knows when Christmas is, right?”
Source: Official SBU TikTok account
The semantic content of the video and accompanying text establishes a direct association between celebrating the Nativity of Christ on January 7 and the use of force by the SBU, including armed intrusion into a dwelling as a form of punishment for those who continue to celebrate Christmas traditionally on that date rather than on December 25, in accordance with government-imposed reforms.
At the same time, the publication contains no references to any specific criminal proceeding, court decision, individually identified persons, or legal grounds for the actions depicted. The message is addressed to an indefinite group of individuals united by a religious characteristic—namely, the preservation of the tradition of celebrating Christmas according to the Julian calendar.
By its form, content, and context, this video constitutes an act of public intimidation. The use of imagery of armed violence, the demonstration of a forced entry, the absence of legal explanations, and the ironic, sarcastic presentation by an official state body create psychological pressure and form among believers a sense that celebrating their traditional religious holiday is prohibited.
The target group of this intimidation consists of citizens of Ukraine who continue to celebrate the Nativity of Christ on January 7 according to the Julian calendar, including believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
It should be noted that until December 2023, this date had been historically established and widely accepted by the majority of Ukraine’s population for many centuries.
The video received thousands of responses, a significant portion of which are critical in nature, directly pointing to the intimidating meaning of the publication or demonstratively declaring the intention to continue celebrating Christmas on January 7. This indicates that the content was perceived as a form of pressure rather than as a neutral or humorous message.
(Source: SPZh)
In light of the above, this publication may be regarded as an action containing signs of public intimidation of citizens, abuse of official authority, discrimination on religious grounds, and interference with freedom of conscience and religion.
The use of the official SBU communication channel to disseminate such content amplifies the unlawful nature of the impact and gives it the character of institutional pressure.
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