OCU supporters "transfer" UOC parish to their structure in Rivne region

In the village of Butove, Rivne region, supporters of the OCU held a meeting at which they announced the «transfer» of St. John’s Church of the Sarny Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to the control of the Ukrainian schism. This meeting reportedly took place on February 22, 2026, and raised concerns about the possible illegal re-registration and seizure of the church.

According to the Dozor Telegram channel, on February 22, 2026, activists of the OCU organized a meeting of the so-called territorial community in the House of Culture of the village of Butovo, Rivne region. During the event , «a crowd of several dozen local residents and clerics of the OCU, who are not related to the religious community of the church,» voted to «transfer» the church under their control.

Journalists note that supporters of the OCU are already actively preparing falsified documents for the future illegal re-registration of the religious community. The purpose of these actions is called the further seizure of the local St. John’s Church.

As reported, on February 21, in the village of Smolyhiv, Lutsk district, Volyn region, a meeting of the territorial community was held on the issue of the transfer of St. Nicholas Church from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the OCU. The event was held in the Center of Culture in an extremely tense atmosphere, accompanied by heated discussions and disputes in the presence of law enforcement agencies. Despite public and administrative pressure, the UOC believers managed to take part in the meeting and defend their church through an open vote.