In a village in Volyn, supporters of the OCU are obstructing the construction of a new UOC church

In the village of Nichogivka, Lutsk District, Volyn Oblast, supporters of the OCU are obstructing the construction of a new church for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to replace the one previously seized by schismatics. The official reason cited is the religious organization’s lack of permits. However, in reality, local OCU clergy and local government officials have become involved in the process. This was reported by Suspilne.

The conflict arose because, seven years ago, a portion of the village community seized the local church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and transferred it to the OCU. Supporters of the OCU emphasize that representatives of the UOC “are trying to turn the village into a center of their influence by attracting believers from other settlements.”

In turn, after reviewing residents’ complaints, the Volyn Regional Council’s temporary oversight commission initiated an investigation into the legality of the construction work. Oleksandr Palinkevych, chairman of the Kolkivska Village Council, confirmed that construction work has been completely halted at this time due to the lack of title documents for the land and permits to begin construction. At the same time, lawyers note that the construction of such facilities requires a certified design and registration with the State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban Planning (DIAM).

As a reminder, on the evening of December 30, 2025, a tragedy occurred in the village of Nichogivka, Lutsk District: a temporary prayer hall, where the congregation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church had been gathering for nearly seven years, was completely destroyed by fire; the church’s main building had previously been seized by supporters of the OCU. The fire destroyed the entire building, the church’s interior decorations, and everything the faithful had set up for holding services. This loss is particularly bitter because it occurred just a few days before Christmas, leaving the congregation without a place to pray.