Newly elected head of UOC-KP announces seizure of Patriarchal residence in Kyiv after Filaret's death

Representatives of the UOC-KP faced blocked access to the patriarchal residence on Chykalenko Street in Kyiv immediately after the death of Filaret Denisenko. The newly elected head of the Kyiv Patriarchate, Nikodim Kobzar, reported that the building had actually been taken over by law enforcement agencies and unidentified persons, making it impossible for the clergy to stay there.

According to Telegraf, the situation around the church property escalated in the shortest possible time. According to Kobzar, the residence was legally re-registered to the OCU about seven years ago, but until recently, they did not dare to occupy it out of respect for the figure of Patriarch Filaret. However, immediately after his death, access to the building was blocked by security forces and people in balaclavas.

Nikodim Kobzar emphasized that the UOC-KP hierarchs who arrived in the capital actually stayed outside before the curfew began. “Yesterday, when I called the Patriarchate, I was told that you cannot come here anymore. We are not allowed by law enforcement agencies and people in balaclavas,” he said, adding that such actions do not correspond to the principles of Christian love and do not embellish the leadership of the OCU in the person of Epiphany Dumenko.

The UOC-KP is particularly concerned about the safety of the valuable property remaining inside the residence. According to Kobzar, the building contains books in Ukrainian with a total value of about UAH 1 million, as well as church items and valuable works of art, including paintings by the famous artist Ivan Yizhakevych. At the moment, representatives of the Kyiv Patriarchate are unable to control the safety of these artifacts.

As a reminder, the UOC-KP appointed 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.