TRC abducts UOC priest in Odesa Region and holds him for four days
Archpriest Oleksandr Moskovchuk. Photo: Odesa Eparchy
On June 10, 2025, officers of the Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) detained Archpriest Oleksandr Moskovchuk, rector of the Holy Trinity Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the village of Troyandove, located in the Dobroslav community of Odesa District. The incident was reported by the press service of the Odesa Eparchy.
“Despite his age, poor health, the canonical prohibition on bearing arms, and the legal grounds preventing his mobilization, the clergyman has been – and continues to be – pressured to sign a military service contract. He is being subjected to threats and psychological coercion, and transported between various TRC offices and military units across Odesa Region and Ukraine,” the statement reads.
According to the eparchy, Fr. Oleksandr has now been held for four days in TRC barracks – unjustly deprived of the ability to see his family and fulfill his pastoral duties.
The clergyman is receiving qualified legal assistance.
“We ask everyone to lift up fervent prayers for Archpriest Oleksandr, his family, and his spiritual children,” the Odesa Eparchy urged.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Khmelnytskyi TRC released a UOC protodeacon who had been unlawfully detained.
Read also
OCU blogger tries to stage provocation at Chernivtsi Holy Spirit Cathedral
A provocateur calling himself a “religious expert” came to the cathedral in Chernivtsi and recorded a video while insulting UOC clergy and faithful.
UOC eparchy holds 16th “Bible Experts” Olympiad for Sunday school students
The Rivne Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church held the 16th “Bible Experts” Olympiad for Sunday school students.
Court legalizes unlawful transfer of UOC parish in Vilne
A UOC parish from the village of Vilne filed a lawsuit against the unlawful transfer of the church, but the court refused to satisfy the claim.
Ministry of Culture hands two buildings in Lower Lavra over to OCU
The organization headed by Epifaniy (Dumenko) was granted, for free use, the residence of Metropolitan Onufriy and the building that housed the chancellery of the UOC Metropolis in the Lower Lavra.
Phanar bishop at ecumenical prayer service: All faiths are one Body of Christ
Archbishop Elpidophoros spoke of “diversity within the Body of Christ” at a service attended by Catholics, Protestants, and an openly lesbian “woman bishop.”
MP comments on Yermak being backed by a “satanist” who picketed Lavra
Zhelezniak called “Mag Veliiar” a “talking head for the President’s Office” and mocked his accusations against him.