OCU supporters seize UOC church in Khmelnytsky region

on February 9, 2026, an incident occurred in the village of Kuzmin, Khmelnytsky region, involving the seizure of the Holy Nativity of the Virgin Mary Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Unidentified persons illegally entered the church, breaking the locks, and deprived the UOC religious community of the use of the religious building. Archpriest Mykyta Chekman, the UOC advocate, said that there is no court decision authorizing such actions.

According to the source, the Khmelnytsky DIA illegally re-registered the religious community, changing its name, leader and confessional subordination, despite the official request to refrain from registration actions until the dispute is resolved in court. The rector of the church, Fr. Heorhii Sikaliuk, filed an application for interim relief with the Kyiv Commercial Court, demanding that any registration actions against the community be prohibited. However, the state registrar ignored the court procedure and made changes to the Unified State Register, creating conditions for the raider seizure of the church.

In connection with the incident, a report of a crime under Article 356 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (arbitrariness) was filed. The religious community declares its intention to continue protecting its rights, emphasizing that the law should be the same for all.

Earlier, we reported that U.S. Congresswoman Anna Pauline Luna intends to demand explanations from Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna regarding the raider seizure of the church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Kuzmin, Chernivtsi region, by supporters of the OCU.