The Odessa Regional State Administration refused to consider the issue of the seizure of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

The Odesa Regional State Administration (RSA) has officially responded to the collective appeal from parishioners concerned about the fate of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which was seized by representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) with the support of paramilitary units, and referred the dispute to the courts. According to information published on the Facebook page “ ” ( ), as reported by Archpriest Maximian Pogorelovsky, press secretary of the Odessa Diocese of the UOC, the authorities stated that the issue of the legality of transferring the religious building to another religious community falls outside their jurisdiction.

In a video message posted on social media, Archpriest Maximian Pogorelovsky reported that officials had acknowledged that the documentation for the new religious community was formally correct. In light of this, the administration refused to conduct an additional review of the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the church, suggesting that the faithful defend their rights exclusively through legal channels in court.

The clergyman expressed deep dissatisfaction with the agency’s position, calling it an attempt to shirk responsibility. According to him, the current situation sets a precedent under which any group of individuals could lay claim to the property of a religious organization without proper verification by the state. The congregation intends to seek justice through the courts.

As a reminder, on June 23, 2026, in Odesa, representatives of the OCU, with the support of private security forces, seized the church dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky. The seizure of the church was led by the so-called OCU chaplain, Theodore Orobets.