The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church suggested that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine focus on eastern and southern Ukraine and leave the western part of the country to them

Justyn Boiko, a representative of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), issued a public call for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) to reconsider its territorial presence strategy, suggesting that it withdraw from the western regions of the country and focus its activities on the east and south. ’s statement was prompted by a recent visit to Lviv by the head of the OCU, Epiphanius Dumenko.

Justyn Boiko, who serves as assistant for monastic affairs for the Lviv Archdiocese of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), noted that church life in western Ukraine already has a strong foundation. In his view, a church does not become “great” through expansion into already established territories, but rather through missionary work where it is most needed—in the eastern and southern regions of the country.

The statement provoked a sharp reaction from representatives of the OCU. In particular, Vladimir Shlapak, head of the Zhytomyr-Polissya Diocese of the OCU, responded by accusing the UGCC representative of fearing the loss of his flock and urged him not to point out the OCU’s “canonical territories.” During the ensuing dispute on social media, the parties exchanged mutual accusations: representatives of the OCU reproached the Uniates for attempting to “appropriate history,” while other participants in the discussion highlighted the complexity of interfaith relations, comparing the situation in the region to the possible transformation of western Ukraine into “the Balkans.”

As a reminder, on September 1, 2025, the Don Bosco Catholic School was officially opened in Zaporizhzhia. This fully-fledged educational institution, which was built in 14 months, will operate under the auspices and spiritual guidance of the Donetsk Exarchate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.