Khmelnytsky Diocese of the UOC claims falsification of documents during seizure of church in Kuzmyn and draws attention of the US Congress

The Khmelnytsky Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has issued an official comment on the seizure of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the village of Kuzmin, which took place on February 9, 2026. According to the diocese, the seizure was based on falsified documents on the change of jurisdiction to the OCU, while the real religious community remains faithful to the UOC. The situation has already attracted international attention, particularly in the US Congress.

According to the press service of the Khmelnytsky Diocese of the UOC, the seizure of the church was carried out on the basis of forged documents. They allegedly reported the transfer of the religious community from the UOC to the OCU, as well as amended the charter and changed the leader: Archpriest Heorhiy Sykalyuk was replaced by Bohdan Bilyavets.

Representatives of the diocese recalled that on December 21, 2025, a meeting of the territorial community was held in the House of Culture of the village of Kuzmin, where it was decided to transfer the UOC parish to the OCU. The diocese emphasizes that such actions committed by members of a territorial, not a religious community, are a gross violation of Ukrainian law.

At the same time, the rector of the church, Archpriest Georgy Sykalyuk, and the true members of the religious community unanimously confirmed their desire to remain part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the omophorion of Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv and All Ukraine. The religious community of the UOC expresses its disagreement with the ongoing lawlessness and intends to actively defend its rights both at the national and international levels. It is reported that the community will continue to hold services and seek the return of the seized church through the courts.

It is noted that the situation around the church in Kuzmin has already caused a reaction in the United States. Republican Congresswoman Anna Pauline Luna said that she was taking this issue under her personal control, which indicates the growing international attention to the events.

As a reminder, on February 9, 2026, an incident occurred in the village of Kuzmin, Khmelnytsky region, related to the seizure of the Holy Nativity of the Virgin Mary Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Unidentified persons illegally entered the church by breaking the locks and barred the UOC religious community from using the religious building.