OCU supporters seize UOC church in Odesa region

on December 13, 2025, the Holy Protection Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) in the village of Myrony of the Balta community of the Podil district of Odesa region came under the control of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). This transition took place against the backdrop of statements by the OCU about «changing the subordination of the community» and categorical denials by the Balta Diocese of the UOC, which calls the event a seizure.

According to the UOJ Telegram channel, on December 13, 2025, a meeting was held in the village of Myroni, at which it was decided to change the jurisdiction of the Intercession parish. As a result of this meeting, a new acting rector was appointed. The event, according to the OCU, was attended by representatives of the Odesa Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

In turn, the Baltic Diocese of the UOC, commenting on the situation, categorically denied the accuracy of the information disseminated by the OCU. Representatives of the diocese stated that neither the parishioners nor the rector of the UOC community were present at the mentioned «meeting.» Moreover, the faithful were not informed about its holding, and thus the decision to transfer was made without any participation of the real parishioners.

The diocese emphasized that the rector of the Intercession Church, Archpriest Fedor Zubriy, constantly supported his flock, actively prayed for Ukrainian soldiers and helped those in need. It is also noted that he used his own money to buy church utensils for the church. The statements about the alleged refusal to pray for the soldiers, voiced by representatives of the OCU, were called groundless in the Diocese of Balta.

Representatives of the UOC also noted that representatives of the OCU were present at the scene, as well as the «new rector» who, in their opinion, had been prepared in advance for appointment to the parish. After these actions, the church was actually taken away from the community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Currently, the Church of the Intercession in the village of Myrony is under the control of the OCU.

Earlier, we reported that in the village of Tomashpil, Vinnytsia region, the conflict between the religious communities of the OCU and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) escalated over the right to use the local church. Supporters of the OCU, who have been holding religious events in a former school building for five years, demand that they be given the opportunity to take turns praying in the Holy Dormition Church, which legally belongs to the UOC community. In turn, the UOC community opposes this decision. The regional authorities see three ways to resolve the situation: litigation, a «voluntary» change of jurisdiction by the UOC community, or alternate services.