UOC-KP announces election of new head after Filaret's death

The UOC-KP has identified its new leader after the death of Filaret Denisenko. The new head of the structure is the head of the Sumy Diocese of the UOC-KP, Nikodim Kobzar, whose election was officially announced on March 21, 2026.

According to UOC-KP hierarch Ioasaf Shibaev, the election took place the day after Filaret Denisenko’s death. As St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Kyiv was blocked by the police and access to the building was denied to representatives of the UOC-KP, the voting procedure was held online.

According to Shibayev’s statement, the election took place «in the only correct canonical way» through the voluntary expression of the bishops’ will. He noted that, despite the revocation of the civil charter of the Kyiv Patriarchate by officials, this does not affect the «internal, gracious life of the Church.» One of the priorities for Nikodim Kobzar in his new position will be the registration of a new legal charter of the organization.

Earlier, the head of the Sumy Diocese of the UOC-KP, Nikodim Kobzar, issued a statement in which he accused Filaret Denisenko’s blood relatives of his abduction and collusion with the OCU. According to the statement, the head of the UOC-KP was taken to St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery under the influence of psychotropic substances to sign documents. The hierarch claims that this was done against the will of the head of the UOC-KP and declares his firm intention to preserve the «Kyiv Patriarchate».