In Transcarpathia, a court fined a retiree for criticizing the OCU on social media

The Uzhhorod City and District Court in Zakarpattia Oblast handed down a verdict against retiree Vasyl Golubka, finding him guilty of inciting religious hatred through online posts. According to the case file, the defendant publicly criticized the activities of the OCU and its head, Epiphanius Dumenko, while simultaneously speaking out in defense of the UOC.

As reported by Zaxid.net, the trial, presided over by Judge Oleksiy Fazykosh, concluded on October 30, 2026. The man was sentenced to a fine of 3,400 hryvnias. In addition, the court ordered the confiscation of the Xiaomi cell phone used to post the comments and required the retiree to reimburse the costs of forensic examinations in the amount of 4,400 hryvnias.

During the investigation, it was established that between 2023 and 2025, the Transcarpathian resident repeatedly posted messages on social media in which he denied the UOC’s ties to Russia and referred to it as the only “true” church for the Ukrainian people. At the court hearing, the defendant fully admitted his guilt, citing that his actions were driven by strong emotions.

The court took into account mitigating circumstances, including the defendant’s retirement age, his lack of a criminal record, and the fact that he voluntarily donated 20,000 hryvnias to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Nevertheless, this ruling set yet another precedent in a series of similar cases: a similar incident was previously reported in the Rivne region, where a local resident was also ordered to pay a fine for criticizing the process of a religious community’s transition to the OCU.