"Reshuffles and dismissals": OCU Synod makes a number of personnel decisions

The Synod of the OCU, which took place in Kyiv on February 2, 2026, made a number of significant personnel decisions. Among other things, the OCU reshuffled the Vinnytsia and Khmelnytsky dioceses and removed the head of the Uzhhorod-Zakarpattia Diocese from his post. This was reported by the press service of the organization.

It is reported that the heads of the Vinnytsia and Khmelnytsky dioceses of the OCU were swapped. Thus, now the Khmelnytsky Diocese of the OCU is headed by former Metropolitan Simeon Shostatsky of the UOC, and Pavlo Yuristy, who held this position earlier, will be transferred to the Vinnytsia diocese. In addition, Shostatsky was appointed chairman of the Commission for Dialogue with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which the OCU Synod established at the above-mentioned meeting.

In addition, the OCU decided to remove from office and send to the monastery the former head of the Uzhhorod-Zakarpattia Diocese of the OCU, Kirill Mikhailuk. «Having heard the report of the Commission of the Holy Synod to study the state of affairs in the Uzhhorod-Khust Eparchy, established in accordance with Order No. 74 of November 13, 2025, taking into account the request of His Grace Cyril to dismiss him from office, as well as the answers to the questions and explanations of Bishop Cyril (Mykhailyuk), which he personally provided during the meeting of the Holy Synod, after a detailed discussion of the information received, it was stated that there were significant canonical violations by Bishop Cyril of Uzhhorod and Khust, which together cause significant damage to the Church. The Synod decided to dismiss Bishop Cyril (Mykhailyuk) from the administration of the Uzhhorod-Khust Diocese and to retire. In this regard, Bishop Cyril was also excluded from the Synodal Commission on the Canonization of Saints,» the Synod’s decision reads.

Although the Synod of the OCU does not officially comment on the real reasons for the dismissal of Kirill Mykhailyuk, his removal took place due to the recent scandal involving the former head of the Uzhhorod-Khust Diocese of the OCU. Earlier, we reported that the Security Service of Ukraine is investigating a large-scale scheme to facilitate mobilization evasion organized by representatives of the clergy of one of the dioceses of the OCU. According to the investigation, the head of the Uzhhorod-Khust Diocese of the OCU, Kirill Mikhailuk, set up amechanism for issuing fictitious certificates of clergy rank to men liable formilitary service for a monetary reward, which allowed them to avoid being drafted into the army.