Church Seizures of the UOC Increasing in Bukovina

In the Chernivtsi region, the wave of seizures of churches belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) continues. According to the Department of Culture of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration, in the first three months of 2025 alone, UOC churches were seized in 22 localities of the region — more than what had typically been recorded over the course of an entire year in previous periods.

In response to an inquiry from Suspilne, officials specified that the seizures included four church communities in Chernivtsi, as well as two each in Hlyboka, Storozhynets, Stari Broskivtsi, and Khotyn. Ten more seizures occurred in other towns and villages across the region.

Despite ongoing pressure, as of early April 2025, 393 religious communities of the UOC remain active in the Chernivtsi region. In comparison, 266 parishes in the region are affiliated with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

Earlier it was reported that on March 27, 2025, the Chernivtsi Diocese of the OCU and the Department of Science and Education under the Chernivtsi Regional Administration signed a memorandum of cooperation. Within the framework of this agreement, the OCU will be able to implement educational initiatives in schools and universities across the region.