Korchinsky claims participation of his organization in seizure of UOC churches in favor of OCU

Right-wing extremist Dmytro Korchynskyi has admitted that his organization is directly involved in the seizure of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) parishes in favor of the OCU in Cherkasy region. Korchinsky’s confession indicates that the change in the confessional affiliation of UOC parishes in the region is not due to the will of the religious communities themselves, but as a result of the actions of activists.

According to the uoc-news.church portal, citing Korchinsky’s Facebook post of November 20, 2025, the activist also expressed dissatisfaction with the local hierarch of the OCU, Ivan Yaremenko, calling him insufficiently “combative and uncompromising.”

According to Korchinsky, this OCU hierarch “hates” his organization precisely “because the Brotherhood is actively involved in the transfer of churches to the OCU, in particular, churches in Cherkasy and Moshny”. This statement was presented as a direct confirmation of external interference in the life of religious communities.

In addition, the report claims that activists from Korchinsky’s group, who are engaged in the transfer of UOC churches, are active employees of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine.

As reported, on November 16, 2025, in the village of Moshny, Cherkasy region, the Transfiguration Church, which belonged to the local religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, was seized by force. According to open source reports, the church was seized by supporters of the OCU with the support of an armed raider group. According to eyewitnesses, the attackers were armed with bats and tear gas, and the police did not intervene in the situation.