In Chernihiv, the court rejected the “nature reserve” request to evict nuns from the Yeletsky Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

On July 28, 2025, the Chernihiv Regional Economic Court dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Chernihiv Ancient Historical and Cultural Reserve, which demanded the eviction of nuns from the Holy Assumption Yeletsky Convent of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Thus, the monastic community will continue to use the premises of the Yeletsky Monastery, which the state had previously failed to expropriate. This was reported by Suspilne.Chernihiv.

“The Economic Court decided to dismiss the claim of the National Architectural and Historical Reserve ”Ancient Chernihiv“ against the administration of the Chernihiv Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding the obligation to return property and remove obstacles to the use of property through eviction,” – the court ruling states.

In turn, Nina Kostina, a representative of the monastery, commenting on the situation, said that the decision on the basis of which the monastic community uses the premises was made back in 1991 and has not been challenged by anyone since then. In addition, 45 nuns currently reside in the monastery, whose eviction cannot be a legal decision.

“When this complex of buildings of the Yeletsky Monastery was transferred to the National Reserve on August 14, 2023, agreements on indefinite joint use began to be concluded. But these agreements did not change the legal regime for the use of this property, because according to that provision, the decision of the executive committee of the Chernihiv Regional Council granted the right to indefinite use of this property,” – Nina Kostina believes.

At the same time, Natalia Rebrova, director of the National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Ancient Chernihiv,” briefly stated that their position remained unchanged — these buildings must be vacated.

On July 24, the Economic Court of the Ternopil Region partially upheld the claim of the Kremenets-Pochayiv State Historical and Architectural Reserve against the Holy Epiphany Convent of the Ternopil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The court ruled that the convent must return the premises to the state.