In Kyiv, representatives of the OCU prevented the management of the “Ancient Kyiv” Nature Reserve from inspecting an historic church

Roman Malenkov, director of the “Ancient Kyiv” Nature Reserve, reported a serious conflict with representatives of the OCU. According to the official, the rector of the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Pirogishchi, in the capital, refused to allow a commission to inspect the historically significant building, which is state-owned.

Malenkov emphasized that the church is on the state’s balance sheet and is leased to the OCU. Despite this, the organization refuses to sign a preservation agreement, using the historic premises as office and storage space. The church’s basement, which is of particular cultural value, preserves 12th-century foundations and the unique vault of an ancient heating furnace.

The reserve’s management had planned to organize a museum exhibition with informational displays in these premises but was met with a categorical refusal from the rector. An official noted that, despite an official warning, the clergyman ignored the inspection, stating that without his presence, representatives of the reserve would not be allowed inside. Moreover, the OCU abbot called the museum director a “Bolshevik,” which caused bewilderment and disappointment among the reserve’s management.

As a reminder, the administration of the “Pereyaslav” National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve officially granted representatives of the OCU access to St. Michael’s Cathedral, which previously belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The corresponding agreement on the free use of the cathedral was signed on August 24, 2026.