After Chernivtsi mass brawl, Ukraine urges Romanian Church to recognize OCU

Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania Ihor Prokopchuk. Photo: Saul Pop

On June 26, 2025, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania, Ihor Prokopchuk, demanded full recognition of the OCU by the Romanian Orthodox Church, stating that it "would strengthen relations and trust between the nations of our countries," reports the Romanian publication agerpres.

"I emphasize the paramount importance of the issue of full recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine by the Romanian Orthodox Church," said Ihor Prokopchuk at a press conference.

Paradoxically, the diplomat referred to the bloodbath that OCU militants staged on June 17 during the attempted seizure of the Holy Spirit Cathedral of the UOC in Chernivtsi.

He stated that "our interest lies in ensuring that this process (of the OCU recognition by the Romanian Church - Ed.) is completed as soon as possible."

“There are no ethnic motives in this conflict, which arose between two religious organizations (…) the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the aegis of Moscow,” stated Prokopchuk, adding that many people in Bukovina “do not want to associate themselves with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.”

The ambassador assured that Russia is interested in the OCU's attack on the UOC cathedral, as it "would increase the level of distrust between Romania and Ukraine". He promised that the authorities would "take measures to ensure that disputes in the region are resolved peacefully."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an EP member called on Romania to condemn the violence against priests in Chernivtsi.

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