A DESS expert assessed the risks of forcibly evicting monks from the Pochaiv Lavra

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has launched a large-scale investigation into the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, aimed at identifying potential legal ties between the monastery and the Russian Orthodox Church. Denis Kolyada, an expert with the agency, warned that any attempts to forcibly evict the monastic community could face strong resistance from the faithful, which could provoke social tension.

During a broadcast on the “Suspilne” television channel, the expert emphasized that the current investigation is focused exclusively on canonical and legal aspects. The State Service for Religious Affairs is examining the monastery’s charter, the mechanisms of administrative subordination, and the procedure for appointing an abbot to determine whether the Russian Orthodox Church actually exerts influence over the monastery’s activities. Kolyada noted that the Lavra is state property, and the religious community uses it under a lease agreement; if affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church is confirmed, the agreement could be terminated.

Despite the legal grounds for the investigation, the expert cautioned against radical actions. According to Kolyada, “forceful methods” in this matter are undesirable, as they could lead to a deep divide in society. He expressed confidence that attempts to forcibly evict the monks would trigger mass protests similar to those previously observed around the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) officially announced that it had discovered evidence of ties between the Holy Intercession Goloseevsky Monastery and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). The investigation was conducted from January 26 to March 19, 2026, at the initiative of members of parliament.