In Chernivtsi, TCC representatives tried to detain the UOC bishop

On February 11, 2026, an incident took place in Chernivtsi involving employees of the Territorial Completion Center (TCC), who tried to detain Bishop Nikita (Storozhuk) of Ivano-Frankivsk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). According to the SPJ, citing sources in the diocese, the bishop was on his way to a church service when his car was stopped.

According to the source, Vladyka Nikita’s car was stopped by police and military officers outside the city. The bishop was told that he was allegedly wanted and had to go with them to the military enlistment office. A TCC officer got into the car with the bishop, and they were accompanied by two police cars traveling in front and behind.

The route leading to the recruitment center passed by the Holy Spirit Cathedral. At the moment when the first police car passed the gates of the cathedral, the car with Vladyka turned sharply into the church territory. The gates of the cathedral were immediately closed. The bishop was able to pass into the temple, where at that time a divine service was taking place.

The military officers in the accompanying police cars tried to provoke a conflict by claiming that their colleague had allegedly been kidnapped. However, they failed to ignite a scandal. The TCC employee, who was traveling in the car with the bishop, was in the cathedral for some time, after which he left it.

We will remind, earlier Metropolitan Volodymyr-Volynsky and Kovel Volodymyr, who heads the Volodymyr-Volyn diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), issued an emergency address to the leadership of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine in Volyn region. In his statement, the hierarch expressed deep concern and pain in connection with the intensification of pressure on the clergy and believers of the diocese, as well as reported about the facts of detention of clergy.