DESS launched an investigation into possible affiliation of Goloseevsky Monastery with the Russian Orthodox Church

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) has initiated an investigation into the possible affiliation of the monastery “St. Pokrovska Goloseevskaya Desert” of the Kiev Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), a foreign religious organization banned in Ukraine. This decision was made against the backdrop of significant public outcry and media reports concerning the monastery’s activities.

According to DESS, back in July 2025, the monastery was included in the list of religious organizations that are part of or related to the structure of the Kyiv Metropolitan Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which were ordered to eliminate violations of legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations, by the agency’s order No. N-107/11. In this context, “Goloseevskaya Desert” was already identified at that time as an object subject to further investigation for signs of affiliation with religious structures associated with the Russian Orthodox Church, which is banned in Ukraine.

A new catalyst for the intensification of the investigation was the significant public outcry caused by the monastery’s recent activities. In particular, in January 2026, the media publicized information about the operation of a private school on the territory of the monastery. According to journalists’ reports, the children were taught using Soviet-era textbooks and Soviet propaganda films were shown to the pupils.

The DESS emphasizes that it “shares the public’s concern about the activities of the Goloseevskaya Desert monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”. Taking into account the new circumstances and within the framework of the current legislation, the agency is moving to an active phase of inspection of the religious organization. It is noted that the research group formed by the DESS will begin to conduct this study from January 26, 2026.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that the complex of buildings of the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Volodymyr-Volyn Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city of Volodymyr, which was previously taken away by the state from the UOC, was officially transferred to the balance of the OCU.