Photos circulating online show the deplorable condition of the seized UOC church in Khotyn

In the Chernivtsi region, a critical deterioration has been observed in the condition of the historic Alexander Nevsky Church in the city of Khotyn, which had previously been seized from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church community. Deep cracks have appeared on the facade of the historic building, and the surrounding area has fallen into disrepair.

According to materials published on the Telegram channel “First Cossack” ( ) , the condition of the church has significantly deteriorated since it came under the control of museum officials and representatives of the OCU. Photos taken in the summer of 2026 show that the church’s walkways and steps are overgrown with grass and shrubs, the plaster has crumbled in places, and the domes are covered in dirt. The cross on the main dome is also noticeably leaning at a dangerous angle.

It is worth noting that this holy site was taken away from the UOC community in April 2023. Until that time, the church had been in excellent condition: as far back as 1990, the faithful had taken over the building, which was then in ruins, and carried out a large-scale restoration on their own. In 2020, immediately before the seizure process began, parishioners documented that the church had been fully renovated and was being maintained in proper condition.

As a reminder, in the city of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi in the Cherkasy region, the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands—which previously belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and is now under the control of OCU supporters—was converted into a clothing warehouse.