The Khmelnytskyi Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported that a church in the village of Dashkovtsy had been forcibly seized

The press service of the Khmelnytskyi Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported the forcible seizure of the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky in the village of Dashkovtsy, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. According to , the official website of the Khmelnytskyi Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the incident occurred on September 5, 2026, with the participation of representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

According to the diocese’s statement, a group of individuals—including OCU priest Petro Leskov and activist Oksana Barabash—accompanied by police officers, broke the locks and occupied the church building. The UOC asserts that these actions were carried out on the basis of forged documents regarding a change in jurisdictional affiliation and the re-registration of the religious organization.

Representatives of the diocese emphasize that the church’s religious community continues to exist and considers the actions to change its leadership and charter to be illegal. The source’s statement also notes that the faithful intend to defend their rights to freedom of religion within the legal framework, including at the national and international levels, while continuing their prayer and volunteer activities.